Commonwealth Games: FG Extols Team Nigeria’s Athletes For Clinching Medals

With the successes recorded on the conclusion of the 2022-23 season in August, the Nigeria National League (NNL) has set September or the the first week in October as the kickoff frame-time for the new season.

Heartland were crowned champions last season following a 2-0 win over Kano Pillars in the final of the Super 8 in Asaba while Sokoto United, Adamawa United, Ikorodu City and Smart City maintain their NNL status after survived relegation playoffs in Kano.

Chairman of the NNL board, George Aluo, gave the hint on the plans for the coming season which according to him, will centre around matching the kickoff date with the Europeans season which would be in line with the directive of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau.

The Nigerian football season at all level has always been at variance with the rest of world but the NFF leadership has vowed to buck the negative trend.

The NNL Chairman reiterated the stand of the country’s governing body and revealed that it’s board will key into it as part of its agenda at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

“First As the Commonwealth Youth Games tagged TRINBAGO 2023, winds off, the federal government has applauded its athletes for yet another podium performance.

The permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar in his congratulatory message to the team today   

applauded them for picking up 8 medals and lifting the nation to the fifth position on the medals table, even with only 16 athletes representing the country at the tournament.

Alhaji Ismaila explained that “of Nigeria’s 25 man contingent to the Game, sixteen (16) were eventually registered as athletes; and virtually all the eight medals won came from track and field events, which is the traditional mainstay of Nigerian Sports; other than football.”

He added that a “critical look at the final medal table for the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago, with emphasis on the nations in the top seven, shows that; Australia which had 84 Athletes, was first and won as many as 26 Gold medals, to record a performance ratio of 30.95%. England, with 65 athletes, won 16 Gold medals, and that gives a performance of about 24%. Scotland, which placed 3rd with 12 Gold medals won by 52 athletes, had a performance ratio of about 23%. South Africa, ranked No 1 in Africa, with 54 athletes, won seven Gold medals, recording a performance ratio of 12.96%, Team Nigeria, No. 2 in Africa with 16 athletes, clinched six Gold medals which represents 40% – the best performance ratio; while Kenya, the 3rd best team from Africa, with 36 Athletes, picked five Gold medals and recorded a performance ratio of 13.95%, to place overall 6th.”

According to him, “coming 2nd in Africa, closely behind South Africa and recording 40% in the competition shows not only the commitment of our athletes in the field of sports but also their desire to lift the nation’s flag high at all international competitions.Thus, they deserve our commendation,” he said.

The permanent secretary who affirmed the Federal Government’s satisfaction with the commitment of the nation’s athletes, especially in recent times and at global competitions, expressed optimism that Nigeria is sure to join the community of renowned sporting nations. 

He therefore called on all sports loving Nigerians and relevant stakeholders in the field of sports to join hands with the Federal Government in ensuring that the nation’s teeming youth are provided with opportunities, not only to excel in their chosen sports but also contribute to the socio-economic development of the country in line with the policy thrust of  the federal government.

The 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG), which began in the Port of Spain, capital of Trinidad and Tobago, and ended on Saturday, August 12, 2023; is the seventh edition, but the first since the death of Queen Elizabeth II and ascension of King Charles III.

The competition is open for athletes between ages 14 to 18.

of all, I’m happy that we have concluded the season with the relegation playoffs.

We now know the relegated clubs to the NLO and those who are remaining in the NNL and, having ended the league successfully, we are now going to look at the 2023-24 season.” he stated.

“The first thing before we start the season is to hold our Annual General Meeting (AGM) where the club owners will come in and then we will rub minds with them as a board and decide when the new season will start.”

He then confirmed that the AGM would decide the direction of the new season.

“We are looking at September or October in line with the directive of President of Nigeria Football Federation Ibrahim Gusau that we should align our league with the rest of the world, the Nigeria Premier League will be starting later this month so we are looking at September or worst case scenario first week of October.”

Actualisation of this plan underlines the urge by the board to improve the standards at the NNL.