Sports
Why Africa’s Young People Are Real Winners at CAF Awards
By Benedict Peters
Almost nowhere on earth is football followed as passionately as in Africa. It is loved by Africans from all walks of life across the continent. This week, I am giving the opening address at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards in Accra, Ghana. This has afforded me a good opportunity to reflect on Africa’s relationship with football and how it can help deliver a brighter future for our young people.
I believe we need only look to the Liberian presidential election for a fine example of the transformative power of football. Against the odds, football legend and opposition candidate, George Weah was victorious and today, he is President-elect of Liberia, one of Africa’s most popular countries. Weah’s perseverance in the face of an initial unsuccessful attempt is a testament to the endurance football teaches.
Before he was a Presidential candidate, of course, Mr Weah was an outstanding footballer whose career spanned great clubs like Paris Saint Germain, Marseille, Monaco and even English Premiership giants like Chelsea and Manchester City.
A striker of fearsome reputation, Weah has been described as the greatest footballer to emerge from Africa, confirmed in 1995 when he won both FIFA Footballer of the Year and the highly valued Ballon d’Or. Over a three year period, in 1989, 1995 and 1996, he claimed the top prize of African Footballer of the year, crowning that in 1996 with the African Footballer of the Century award.
The power of a footballer entering frontline politics cannot be overstated, for two reasons. First, it shows that politics is accessible to all, to the ambitious individual who dares envisage a way he or she can contribute to their country’s future. Second, it makes politics interesting and relevant to young people. If our continent is ever to reach its full potential, then it is our young people who are going to deliver it.
Africa’s youth are already shaping today and redefining tomorrow with their creativity, passion and innovation. I believe that the greatest gift that our generation can give them is to continue to provide platforms for aspiration, recognition and inspiration. But the idea of ‘opportunity’ or of ‘potential’ can be an abstract enough concept to adults never mind the younger generation, many of whom have been overlooked by the decisions of governments not to allow funds raised from investment to trickle down into stronger education systems, apprenticeships and advancement.
In football, the notion of opportunity is far from abstract. Football has always been a unifying factor and a great tool for promoting integration and development. But more than that, it is a global currency, a language spoken in the United Kingdom as much as in Brazil, China and Nigeria. And in football we see, most tangibly, the bold young role models and ambassadors of Africa who are inspiring others and have set the pace in their pursuit of excellence.
Of course, we must be careful not to set false expectations. Football is affected by the same attrition rate that applies to other sports in that very many are called but few ultimately make the dizzy heights that many dream of. President Barack Obama pointed out that youth in the United States may have good role models for economic empowerment and entrepreneurship in the music industry, but that it was unlikely that each child would grow up ‘to be the next Lil Wayne’, so children must also work hard in school. The same can be said of football: not all of our children will grow up to be the next George Weah, Abedi Pele, Dider Drogba or Jay Jay Okocha, but these role models still offer young people a concrete example of the hard work that goes into the pursuit of excellence.
The example of football goes far beyond the 22 men or women who stand on the pitch for 90 minutes each week. I know this because I have seen the extraordinary depth of support services that go into creating the finished product of a football match, and the transformative role they play when properly looked after.
Over the last year, Aiteo has been supporting sports development in Nigeria, leading a partnership agreement with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to provide financial Support to the technical team of Nigeria’s national team for the next five years. In the months since, Nigeria has won more games than they have lost and has qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Aiteo has also made significant contributions towards developing the local football by underwriting the costs associated with organising the Federation Cup, Nigeria’s equivalent of the English FA Cup, helping smaller teams grow and improve on the national stage.
With coaching roles, training roles, marketing, advertising, commercial partnerships and merchandising roles all part of the infrastructure of a newly-global Nigerian football team, no child need only grow up to be the next Alex Iwobi if they are to benefit from the transformative power of football. If a footballer can become the head of a nation, they why not a football coach, a medic or a marketing executive?
So, when I stand on the stage this week to open the CAF Awards, the winners will be very clear to me before the awards have even been handed out: the true winners will be every young person who sees that event; sees that the eyes of the world are on Africa and that a future for each one of them exists in which they can go beyond their school, their hobbies, their parents, and truly embrace their potential. Because the way we conceive the future sculpts the present.
Benedict Peters is the Executive Vice President of the Aiteo Group (www.AiteoGroup.com)
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
This year’s Access Bank Lagos City Marathon will take place on Saturday, February 14, 2026, and a statement from the organisers disclosed that all is set for the prestigious event.
For athletes, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon serves as a gateway to global opportunity. Nigerian runners gain increased visibility and competitive credibility, while the presence of elite international athletes raises performance standards and enhances professional recognition.
With proper race certification and organisation, athletes’ achievements carry global relevance. Access Bank’s international presence further supports cross-border participation, creating a two-way exchange where local talent gains exposure and international runners experience Nigerian culture firsthand.
Since its inception, the marathon has evolved from a bold vision into a globally recognised annual sporting event. Over the years, the participation level has grown significantly, organisational standards have strengthened, and the race has earned increasing international credibility.
Central to this progress has been Access Bank’s consistent, long-term sponsorship, focused not on short-term promotion, but on building a professional, safe, and world-class sporting platform.
The event maintains its status as one of Africa’s leading road races and exemplifies the impact of sustained collaboration, unified objectives, and civic engagement in advancing the interests of the city and its residents.
By consistently investing in logistics, safety, and effective operations, this partnership has elevated the marathon from simply a sports event to a cultural and civic milestone for Lagos. The expansion of the marathon demonstrates how ongoing dedication and teamwork can make a significant difference.
Beyond competition, the marathon has played a notable role in shaping Lagos’ culture and global perception. It has encouraged a stronger fitness and wellness culture among residents, normalising jogging, walking, and group training as everyday lifestyle habits. The race day also fosters community spirit, with thousands of volunteers, spectators, and residents coming together to support participants.
Internationally, the event has positioned Lagos as a city capable of hosting large-scale, world-class events, helping to shift perceptions towards vibrancy, organisation, and cultural energy. In doing so, the marathon has helped Lagos see itself, and be seen, as a city of movement, resilience, and possibility.
Volunteerism and civic participation remain integral, strengthening social cohesion and community pride. Ultimately, its success is measured not just in kilometres run, but in communities strengthened and lives positively influenced.
Environmental responsibility has also become an important focus of the event. Structured waste management and post-race clean-up initiatives are implemented along race routes, with increasing emphasis on responsible disposal and recycling awareness. Through collaboration with volunteers and local groups, the marathon demonstrates that large-scale events can balance excitement with environmental care, proving that celebration and responsibility can co-exist when sustainability is treated as a shared duty.
As Lagos looks forward to the race day on February 14, it is worth recognising Access Bank’s pivotal role in powering the Lagos City Marathon year after year. Through its sustained sponsorship, Access Bank has demonstrated outstanding commitment not only to the sporting event but also to the city's growth and global connections.
By Adedapo Adesanya
English football club, Nottingham Forest, have sacked manager, Sean Dyche, making him the third managerial exit at the club this season.
Mr Dyche was sacked after a goalless draw against bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night in the Premier League.
It is the third time Nottingham Forest have dismissed a coach this season after the sackings of Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou.
His exit comes as the club has won three of their last 13 games in all competitions and is placed 17th in the league, just three points above the relegation zone.
Nottingham Forest confirmed Mr Dyche’s departure on Thursday morning.
“We would like to thank Sean and his staff for their efforts during their time at the club, and we wish them the best of luck for the future,” the club said in a brief statement.
After the Wolves game, Mr Dyche said that it was up to the owner, Mr Evangelos Marinakis, to make a managerial change.
The 54-year-old was appointed by Forest last October to replace Mr Postecoglou, who was in charge of eight games and failed to win any of them. Mr Postecoglou had been appointed after the sacking of Mr Espirito Santo on September 8, less than a month into the season. The latter had led Nottingham Forest to a seventh-place finish in the 2024-25 campaign and qualified for European football.
Mr Dyche oversaw a 12th-place finish in the league phase of the Europa League competition, but like Thomas Frank, who was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, Mr Dyche’s domestic run was poor as he won only six of his 18 Premier League games in charge and his side were eliminated in the FA Cup third round by Championship club Wrexham on penalties.
As per reports, former Wolves coach Vitor Pereira is the frontrunner to replace Mr Dyche and become Nottingham Forest’s fourth manager of the season.
Mr Pereira has not coached professional football since he was sacked by Wolves in November 2025 after failing to win any of their first 10 Premier League games of the season.
However, the Portuguese was widely credited with saving Wolves from relegation after his appointment in December 2024 sparked a significant improvement in results. He also has a past relationship with Mr Marinakis, having coached Olympiacos (also owned by the Greek billionaire businessman) in the 2014-15 season, culminating in them winning the Greek league and a domestic cup double.
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