Sports
Nigeria Rugby Football Federation Unveils 2020 Calendar
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has announced its schedule of international and local events for the year 2020.
Technical Director of the federation, Mr Abubakar Yaro, while addressing newsmen in Lagos, disclosed that, “The year will kick off with training course for our coaches, referees and administrators followed by a return to the National Sports Festival in Edo after a 10-year absence.
“We will then take a break due to Ramadan fast. The President’s Cup between Police and Barewa will usher in the 2020 League Season after which Nigeria will host the West African Rugby Series in Lagos.”
Mr Yaro further said the Black Stallion Men’s Sevens will engage in the Africa Cup 7s later in the year, noting that, “As you know, we will not play in the Africa Cup 15s this year having lost the pre-qualifying match in Madagascar last year.”
He further explained that Nigeria could have avoided Madagascar, the highest ranked team in the preliminary rounds, saying, “If we didn’t get the ban in 2017, we would have easily avoided Madagascar because we fell behind to the lower regional league and had to play our way back up in Niger Republic and Ivory Coast in 2017.
“We then emerged the last ranked team after readmission into the 15s World Cup pre-qualifiers and Africa 7s in 2019. It was an avoidable pairing; however, we have to work towards ensuring we don’t find ourselves in such situation ever again.”
“We are also looking at our Women’s Sevens competing on the continent this year after another 10-year absence.
“Recall our Women’s Sevens team last participated in the year 2009 in Ghana where they finished runners up to Tunisia. They were sponsored by Mr Kelechukwu Mbagwu who was Chairman of Friend’s of Rugby at the time and now that he is President, he is working hard to ensure our Women’s team feature on the Continent again.
“We have identified a number of them playing in Canada and the USA. They converged and participated at the Las Vegas 7s International Open Tournament in March, 2019 where they reached the Cup quarter finals. We look forward to having them come home and mix with our home-based girls to represent Nigeria this year.”
“We’re very much looking forward to starting 2020 with some capacity building programs and we will pay more attention to schools Rugby.
“The President’s Cup between Police and Barewa is pending so it is imminent that we conclude it. The Board agreed to start a Cup competition alongside the League this year to give the players more playing time as well as include a Sevens circuit and Women’s Sevens League towards September.
“We enjoin corporate Nigeria, Individuals and foundations to partner with us to grow Rugby in Nigeria. Our doors are open to discuss,” NRFF President, Mr Kelechukwu Mbagwu, stated.
NRFF Program of Activities 2020
NRFF CALENDAR 2020 |
|
February | Board Meeting |
March | Coaches & Match Officials Training course |
March 22 – April 1 | National Sports Festival |
March | Annual General Meeting |
April | Easter Sandie Beach Rugby |
April 23 – May 23 | Ramadan Fast Break |
June | President’s Cup (Police Lagos Rfc vs Barewa Rfc) |
June | Northern & Southern League Season |
June | Northern & Southern League Season |
July | Camping for West Africa Regional Series (WARS) |
August | West African Regional Series Tournament |
August | Lilleker Tournament Zaria |
August | Northern 7s |
August | National 7s Circuit Tournament |
Sept | National 7s Circuit Tournament |
Sept | Camping for Safari Sevens |
Sept | Safari Sevens Invitational Tournament, Kenya |
Sept | National Youth Games |
Sept | National Womens 7s Camp |
October | Nigeria International Sevens (Independence 7s) / State Schools 7s / Womens 7s |
October | Africa Cup Sevens (Women’s) |
November | Africa Cup Sevens (Men’s)/ HSBC 2021 World Sevens Series Qualifiers |
November | iTry |
November | Rock ‘N’ Rugby Beach Tournament |
November | Sandie Beach November Edition |
Sports
Supreme Court Nullifies National Lottery Act 2005
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The National Lottery Act 2005 enacted by the National Assembly has been nullified by the Supreme Court.
In the lead judgment delivered on Friday by Justice Mohammed Idris, the apex court held that the parliament lacked the powers to legislate on issues relating to lottery and games of chance.
The seven-member panel of justices, in their unanimous judgment, emphasised that the Lagos State government and others were right in their arguments that the federal government cannot legislate a lottery for sub-nationals.
Recall that in 2008, the Lagos State government challenged the National Lottery Act 2005, saying it also has the right to legislate which company operates betting and others since the federation does not have the exclusive power to do this.
The Supreme Court agreed and held that the National Lottery Act 2005 should no longer be enforced in all states, except the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Sports
African Football Talent Faces European Poaching: Clubs Struggle to Retain Emerging Stars Amid Foreign Offers
Global attention is on African football talent, which brings unique strength and style to some of the most prestigious European leagues. In recent years, the transfer of African players has grown, with top leagues in England, France, and Italy actively scouting emerging stars from across the continent. With limited resources, African clubs develop talent that is noticed by scouts of high-profile clubs. Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Senegal’s Sadio Mane have both become household names internationally, leading their teams to major victories. The quality that comes from African leagues and the demand it creates worldwide is exceptional, and this movement is proof of that.
Global Human Exodus: Africans Lured Away by Other Countries
Football is only one field in which skilled Africans have migrated, with medicine, engineering, and science, among others. Nigeria and Ghana are in high demand for medical professionals across Europe and North America because of shortages in those regions. African engineers, mostly from South Africa and Egypt, also tend to take jobs in international firms, lured by higher wages and more advanced training. Athletics and basketball also see strong representation: African-born NBA players, like Cameroon’s Joel Embiid, bring global attention to basketball, while Kenyan and Ethiopian runners dominate long-distance races worldwide. African countries are left grappling with expertise gaps, which is why talent retention is becoming a growing priority across sectors.
The Core of the Matter: Countries with the Highest Talent Outflow
Nigeria and Senegal are leading the way in exporting football talent to Europe, but they’re not alone. Players from the Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Cameroon are always producing and quickly attracting attention abroad. Indeed, Nigeria has more than 200 players playing in leagues across the globe, most of whom include names in the top leagues, such as in England and Italy. It’s following a historic trail: French talent is pulled from former colonies like Senegal and Ivory Coast, places where language and cultural affinity makes the transition easier.
Sports betting fans have long noticed that athletes from Africa, regardless of what club or country they represent, are always of a high level and have a great chance of winning. Modern betting tools, such as the Melbet official app, allow one to track the success rates of athletes and their dynamics, helping to make the right choice.
In fact, Senegal’s football federation even works with French clubs to run training programs. Algeria and Morocco are also high migration destinations for North African countries to French and Spanish leagues, which gives European competitions a unique diversity of play styles.
Not Just a Dream: The Business of Youth Academies in Africa
Top European clubs are drawing scouts to African youth academies that are shaping future stars. Ghana’s Right to Dream and Senegal’s Diambars Academy are two such academies that offer intense training and education, along with international teams and much more. These academies are mainly funded by European clubs that want to sign those who are young and aim to bring them up abroad to get resources and pathways for standout players. Interestingly, Diambars was founded by former Senegalese players to boost local football, but it’s also a gateway to Europe for rising stars. The early connection assures a steady line of spiraling, where young players, often under 18, move into the European football system and quickly learn to adapt to its requirements.
Who’s Signing Them? Clubs Known for Targeting African Players
African players are good assets for competitive leagues, and some European clubs are especially interested in signing African players. Lille and Monaco lead the way, with Lille producing stars such as Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen before his record transfer to Napoli. Finally, English clubs are also major destinations, and Arsenal has been instrumental in bringing players such as Thomas Partey from Ghana. Osimhen and Senegal’s Kalidou Koulibaly joined Napoli in Italy’s Serie A to bolster its defense. However, many of these clubs often set up scouting networks and links in Africa to monitor the best talent as early as they can and to secure the best players.
As this research shows, several factors drive African players to European clubs beyond just salary differences:
- general economic stability and great opportunities for career growth
- easy transition due to cultural ties thanks to a common language (especially for French-speaking regions)
- professional training facilities and quality infrastructure
- no restrictions on clubs in terms of resources spent
- access to high-level competitions and international recognition
But this is well known in Africa itself, so today there are already active measures. So clubs and governments of countries want to keep their best people, and they try to make their conditions no less comfortable than abroad.
Holding the Line: How African Clubs are Fighting to Keep Their Stars
African clubs are coming up with creative ways to keep top talent from leaving. Egypt’s Al Ahly and Tunisia’s Espérance, for instance, pay competitive salaries backed by local sponsors that are comparable to what mid-level European clubs do. More clubs in Nigeria are sealing local brand partnerships in a bid to pad income and make contracts more appealing. Better medical and training amenities also allow players to stay interested and pursue better training facilities, as South African Mamelodi Sundowns, for instance, are setting new standards in player care. It is true that it is difficult to surprise anyone in the world of sports with standards of providing the best service – for example, MelBet customer care has long been providing the best conditions to its clients, regardless of what country they are in. And melbet account registration has become a level higher in terms of convenience and speed for users.
African clubs are also partnering with government programs and foreign investors to further strengthen their financial base. Clubs in Morocco and South Africa offer educational programs for young players as a backup career path and long term stability.
FIFA and CAF’s Role: Curbing the Exodus of Young Talent
FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) are using their funds to protect African talent by funding youth programs across the continent. For example, the FIFA Forward program provides financial support to build and coach at the local level. The Win-Win program fosters partnerships between African and European clubs in a bid to improve training associated with bringing young players closer to home.
New transfer rules bring further protection, especially for under 18 players, with restrictions on international moves and an attempt to stop early poaching. FIFA also introduced regulations which monitor the behaviour of both players and agents in order to reduce exploitation by agents; ensuring young athletes have a more secure pathway into professional football. The success or failure of such decisions in the near future will determine the character of African sport for decades to come, analysts say.
Loyal to Their Roots: Players Who Stayed in Africa Their Whole Careers
Some African football legends have decided to give their entire careers to their home leagues, even with lucrative offers from abroad. Mohamed Aboutrika, the former Egypt star player, spent all of his professional career with Egyptian side Al Ahly, where he has led them to many African Champions League victories. Always refusing international offers, he became a national hero for his loyalty to local football. If you want to get to know his legacy and that of other football legends better, you can do so at MelBet Sport, with reports on every athlete and access to hundreds of football match replays.
South Africa’s Doctor Khumalo, who played for Kaizer Chiefs, one of the country’s top teams, could have gone international but chose to stay home. Aboutrika and Khumalo are players who inspire young athletes to know that football careers can be built in African leagues.
Back to the Roots: European Stars Who Returned to Africa
African players with European careers often decide to return home and play or coach. After a successful stint at Chelsea, Didier Drogba returned to support local football, first with Phoenix Rising FC in the US and later in his native Ivorian football development. Like Eto’o, Samuel Eto’o spent his final seasons in Qatar and Turkey but has since used his post-retirement efforts to build football infrastructure in Cameroon.
Others, such as South Africa’s Benni McCarthy, who played in England’s Premier League, went into coaching, like Cape Town City FC. McCarthy’s European experience has been a valuable asset to him, setting new coaching standards in African leagues.
Conclusion: The Road Ahead for African Football Talent
With clubs scouring young players internationally, keeping African football talent within the continent is proving to be a challenge. However, the provision of greater investment in African youth Academies and partnerships with local clubs provide improved resources to develop and keep talent. FIFA and CAF also back such programs, which offer stronger protections for young players, but also ensure that they have opportunities to develop at home.
However, the path to Europe still seems attractive since the competition is strong and opportunities for career development are present. But as African clubs continue to grow financially and technically, they may provide viable alternatives for players looking for professional success, right at home.
Sports
How to Download BC Game App for iOS?
BC Game is the premier destination for sports and casino bettors in Nigeria. This site can provide them with a vast range of opportunities where they can play and secure impressive winnings. To ensure that players can bet according to their convenience, the developers have also launched its dedicated mobile application, which is available even for iOS users. Thus, iOS users do not have to go to the mobile version of the site, because the BC Game download process is available on their devices as well. This guide will inform the users about the step-by-step process to download the app on iOS.
Compatibility and Requirements
Although the BC Game app is available to be downloaded on iOS devices, players will have to ensure that their device is compatible with the same. Like the Android app, the developers have also given the system requirements for the iOS users, which are as follows:
- iOS Version: 8.0 or above;
- RAM: 1 GB or above;
- Free Memory Space: At Least 100 MB.
They can go to the device settings to check whether it meets the system requirements. If it is able to meet the requirements, players can swiftly proceed to download the casino app on their iOS devices.
BC Game App Download Process
The BC Game app can be downloaded by iOS users within a few minutes, allowing them to access their preferred casino games or sports events on their handheld devices. To download the app on their iOS devices, players can follow the steps given below:
- Open the Safari browser and head over to the official website for Nigerian users.
- Navigate to the app section and click on the “Download for iOS” option on the page.
- Players can now navigate to the download page, where they can check the steps to download.
- Click on the “Share” option on your browsers and select the “Add to Home Screen” option.
- Now, the betting app will be shortly added to the user’s home screen and it can be used to access the available casino games or sports events.
It should be noted that the app is not available for users to download directly from the App Store, due to which they will only be able to download the same from the official website.
Features of the BC Game iOS App
Gamblers who have downloaded the BC Game app on their iOS devices will be able to take advantage of multiple features, which will also help them while placing bets using the app.
- It allows users to bet on casino games and sports events anytime, anywhere, and at any place, with just a few clicks.
- Players can play across a vast range of casino games which includes games like Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette, Slots, Poker Jackpot Games, Aviator, Live Casino, and various others.
- Transactions to and from the account can also be completed quickly with the app, as they won’t be redirected to the other pages for the same.
- Sportsbook can be accessed directly by the bettors using the BC Game app, which allows them to quickly bet on their preferred sports events.
- While using the app, players can also check out the available bonuses and promotions, some of which are exclusively available to the app users.
- Playing live casino games is better via the app, as players will be able to watch the streams and play the game simultaneously.
The other features offered to the users by the app can be checked out by downloading them from the official website.
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