Amusan who won gold and broke records in 100m hurdles at this year’s World Championship and Commonwealth Games is among outstanding Nigerian sports men and women selected for various categories of the Sheroes awards.

Among top Nigerian personalities also lined up for special honours is Edo State First Lady Mrs Betsy Obaseki as Sheroes Trailblazer of the year, a board member of the Nigeria Football Federation, Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen for Sheroes Lifetime Achievement award and Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Mrs Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe – Sheroes Capital Achievement award.

A press statement issued by Ratels Sports Development Foundation (RSDF) President Barrister Paul Edeh on Sunday further disclosed that reigning African woman footballer of the year and Nigeria’s Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala will be crowned Sheroes African Footballer of the year.

According to the organisers, the head coach of Nigeria’s Flamingoes, Bankole Olowookere, will be presented with the Sheroes Sports Icon of the year.

Coach Olowokere led the Flamingoes who recently beat all odds to win bronze at the just concluded FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, a feat that Nigeria was unable to attain in the past at the competition.

Other awardees are Super Falcons player Monday Gift (Sheroes Women Football Rising Star of the year), Coach Emmanuel Osahon (Sheroes Women Football Talent Developer of the year, Ruqayyah Adeboye (Sheroes Humanitarian of the year), Nelly Orisakwe (Sheroes Women Football Grassroots Coach of the year) and Ayisat Yusuf-Aromire (Sheroes Girl-Child Advocate of the year).

There is also posthumous award for late Alhaji Tewogboye Oyewole as Sheroes Pioneer of Women’s Football in Nigeria.

Of the 36 states in Nigeria, Lagos State Football Association has been picked as Sheroes Most Outstanding Women’s Football Development FA of the year in order of awards presentations categorised into three – Sheroes Exceptional Awards, Sheroes Premium Awards and Sheroes Grand Awards.

On the essence of the event, the organisers in the statement said the awards ceremony put together by RSDF since 2020 is among other things meant to acknowledge remarkable feat achieved by women as well as individuals and organisation towards the betterment of women across the globe. 

“The Sheroes Award is an annual event dedicated to celebrating and highlighting the remarkable achievements of African women globally in recognition of their outstanding successes.  It also seeks to highlight and celebrate women who have continued to leave indelible mark in the annals of our society.

“RSDF believes that the giant strides of women and their impactful contribution to humanity, incredible bravery, courage and gallantry should be honoured, celebrated and rewarded in the face of the daunting challenges they surmount daily.

“The theme for the Sheroes Award 2022 is: “This Is Our Moment – African Women Breaking Limits”. Undoubtedly, the women who will be awarded in the 2022 edition of the Sheroes Award are indeed limit breakers whose moment to be celebrated particularly their incredible success story. 

“The Awardees of the 2022 Sheroes Award were carefully selected after a rigorous screening and vetting exercise conducted by the Awards Committee. None of the Awardees were contacted before the screening and vetting process by the Committee,” the statement added.

RSDF is currently organising Sheroes Cup, a pre-season tournament mainly for clubs plying their trade at the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL).

No fewer than eight women clubs are slugging it out at the prestigious Old Parade Ground in Abuja.

Sheroes Cup is proudly sponsored by Airtel, Jigital, Haggai Sports, Ratel Sports Development Foundation, FCT FA and The Women’s Cup.

The first Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and Chairman, Lagos State Football Association, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi has cleared airs on uncertainties surrrounding Football administration in Nigeria in recent times and way forward on the 2022 NFF Election.

The Lagos State Football Association Boss who revealed the decision of the Executive Committee of the NFF in a video presentation on Monday assured total adherence to the supremacy of the congress and called the Stakeholders to put Football first over any ambition

The legal luminary who did not hide his feelings on the situation of things in Nigerian football particularly as expressed at various platforms assured that August 18 has been fixed for the Annual General Assembly scheduled to hold in Lagos.

In his words:

“My dear colleagues, please accept my heartfelt sporting greetings to you and every member of Nigerian football family. In lght of all that has been happening in recent times within the realm of Nigerian football, I have decided to send this message of assurance and give my personal stands on this issue.

As you all aware, there has been a dark cloud of uncertainties surrrounding the administration of our Football in the past few months. We have situation where, first, the issues of court injunction has affected our Football administration

“Many members of NFF Congress have mandated the Executive Committee to call the AGA within the specified time”

“In line with the views of Football fraternity at various fora, Executive Committee must ensure the 2022 NFF elections hold in September 22 withing the life spern of the current Executive Committee”

The plaintiff of Bayelsa State high court has filed for discontinuance of the suite.

In full alignment to the above, I’m aware that NFF Statues is the supreme Law for the administration of Football in Nigeria subject of course to any conflict with the laws of Nigeria

By virtues of NFF Statues, Annual General Assembly as currently constituted is the supreme legislative body for the NFF. In deed, the Executive Committee holds the office at the behest of the congress.

The congress has been informed by the NFF General Secretary that after the botched AGA earlier fixed for 16th August, 2022 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has now been fixed 18th of August, 2022 in Lagos”

As Chairman of Lagos State Football Association, I look forward to receiving you at the Centre of Excellence”

In his submission, The proponent of grassroots Football development affirms that: “I wish to make it abundantly clear that I support the total adherence of the NFF Statues, the supremacy of the congress and the commitments that NFF Elections be held on or before 20 September, 2022”.

As a Football family, this is a yet another time when we are called upon to come together and put Football first.

I thank you for your time and I assure you my total commitment and willingness to see to the bright future of Nigerian football. God bless you “

Lagos’ State Football Association’s quest to develop female football in the state has given birth to a new championship, the Ekofootball Queens Championships with 24 teams set to battle for the giant trophy presented by one of the board members, Prince Ifalade Oyekan.

Speaking at the LSFA office on Thursday, the Chairman of the association, who doubles as the 1st Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Seyi Akinwunmi, said the association is doing its best to improve on the height female football already attained in the state.

Akinwunmi said he was happy with the decision of the women committee of the board, led by their chairman, Yemisi Cole, to come up with the competition.

He added that LSFA has taken football to another height in the state with several innovations including returning the Super Eagles to Lagos while also hosting several national teams in the state.

Also speaking at the press conference, the Vice Chairman of LSFA, Tade Azeez, stated that the revolution experienced at the Nigeria Women Football League Super Six at the Dipo Dina International Stadium Ijebu-Ode encouraged the Lagos FA to do more for women’s football development in Nigeria, while also stressing that, majority of the players that showcased their talents at the Super Six, were players who had their early development in the game in Lagos.

The chairman of the women committee, Cole, revealed that 24 teams would be taking part in the competition that will feature only amateur players with games expected to take place at the Agege Stadium and the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium, Lagos.

According to her, the competition will run for two weeks, starting from Wednesday, June 2, while adding that the tournament is not about the winner or the loser, but about developing women’s football in the state.

She added that the teams will be in four groups of six teams each for the competition that would first be played on league basis before going into the knock-out series until the final game.

Victory Queens, Unification FC, Heroes FC, Lakeside Queens, SGH Queens, FC Phoenix, BFA English and Oracle Angels are among the teams that would be fighting for honour at the tournament.

The Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) hosted the Silver medalist Team Lagos men’s and women’s football teams at the just concluded 2020 National Sports Festival in Benin City on Sunday at the Soccer Temple, Agege.

LSFA Chairman who also double as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi appreciated Team Lagos Football teams and urged the players to focus on their career and education.

“We are here to welcome you back home and to say thank you to the team’s contingent, coaches, players, and backroom staff, we are proud of you all. We appreciate your attitude and the kind of football you played. Your progress is our mission, you have got the experience and you all will be stronger. You all have made us proud,” emotional Akinwunmi said.

Akinwunmi commended the Lagos State government and the Sports Commission for their support despite the challenges the team encountered during the qualifiers and accreditation of players for the Festival.

“We appreciate the Lagos State government and the Lagos State Sports Commission for their support. We are ready to support your progress, we know what we have done to support different kids in Lagos, footballers and also those willing to acquire education. We have saved a lot from slavery contracts as well.

“Football is gradual, with the right support you will get there. You have to take the right steps, if you are patient you will get there. You all need education, educated players is a better player. An educated player as security after playing.

“We are not interested in football agencies, we are only interested in your success. We are here to guide you and support your progress. This is the beginning for you all, you have to continue working hard. The glory is for us in Lagos, this is the reason why we have to work together as a family. My board members have been fantastic and we are proud that our work has come to fruition.”

LSFA Vice-Chairman Otunba Tade Azeez described the team’s podium finish as the ‘Golden’ Silver medal.

“We are proud of your performance, it was a Golden Silver finish for us. We heard what happened in Edo State, irrespective of that, we are proud of your performance,” an elated Azeez said.

The head coach of the men’s team, Hamidi Suleiman shower praises on his boys for their performance in Benin City despite the drama and intimidation in the final game.

He said; “We appreciate the opportunity for us to compete in the Festival, I want to salute my boys for their performance despite the challenges in Benin City. It was an amazing experience and I think we were good ambassadors of the State. We lost in the final, football is a game of chance, but despite losing the final game, we were the center of attention for those at the stadium.”

The captain of the women’s team, Asooto Franca narrated the experience they garnered at the Festival.

“In our first game, we played with just eight players because of clearance issues, but we were still able to secure a result. Then, the issue of penalties came up as a tiebreaker for the team that would progress and we survived the hurdle. Our performance in the semifinal was superb and I think we gave our best in the final. The experience wasn’t good in the final, tensed atmosphere and intimidation,” Franca revealed.