Sports
There will be a significant African feel to this LaLiga season


More than half of the 20 LaLiga teams have at least one African player in their 2018/19 squad.
The new LaLiga season should be especially exciting for football fans based in Africa, as there are so many players from the continent who’ll be competing at the highest level in Spain this year. In fact, 13 of the 20 LaLiga clubs have at least one African in their squad, while some of these teams have several.
Morocco and Ghana can both claim to have the most African players in the Spanish top division, with five each, which is a very impressive tally when considering that only eight other countries – including Spain – have more representatives in LaLiga.
Amongst the Moroccan contingent, there’s the experienced Real Betis defender Zouhair Feddal, Girona goalkeeper Yassine ‘Bono’ Bounou and Leganés forwards Nabil El Zhar and Youssef En-Nesyri.
There’s also Sofiane Boufal, who has just arrived at Celta Vigo after spending the past two seasons at Southampton. The 24-year-old attacking midfielder had previously been at Lille before moving to England as the second-most expensive Moroccan ever and will be looking to shine in Galicia while on loan. With Celta expected to play direct football under new coach Antonio Mohamed, there will be plenty of opportunities for Boufal to express himself.
As for the Ghanaian quintet, they are made up of Atlético Madrid’s Thomas Teye Partey, plus Alavés midfield duo Patrick Twumasi and Mubarak Wakaso, and Levante strikers Raphael Dwamena and Emmanuel Boateng. Of course, Partey is the most high-profile of these players as he plays for one of the very best club sides in Europe and he has already made an impact this season during the UEFA Super Cup, where he created the decisive third goal for teammate Saúl Ñíguez in Los Rojiblancos’ victory over Real Madrid, becoming the first Ghanaian to win that competition. This will be the 25-year-old midfielder’s fourth season in Diego Simeone’s first-team squad and his importance has been growing with each year.
Another African nation with a significant presence in this year’s Spanish top division is Equatorial Guinea. National team striker Iban Salvador is at Celta Vigo, while Equatoguinean full-backs Sergio Akieme and Carlos Akapo will spend this season at newly promoted sides Rayo Vallecano and Huesca respectively.
Then there’s the Senegalese contingent to keep an eye on too. Abdoulaye Ba, Pape Diop and Amath Ndiaye have all joined new LaLiga clubs within the past year and they all became very important for their new sides in the 2017/18 season, with Ba helping Rayo Vallecano win promotion and with Diop and Ndiaye helping Eibar and Getafe with their respective battles for European football.
Ivorian striker, Seydou Doumbia joined the African LaLiga train following his move from Portuguese side, Sporting Lisbon to Girona on a three- year deal. The 30year old who has been capped thirty-nine times by his country was a member of the Elephants squad that won the 2015 African Cup of Nations.
Nigeria are also well-represented in LaLiga this time around. Leganés have signed Chelsea’s Nigerian centre-back Kenneth Omeruo on loan for one season and this is very exciting for the Madrid-based club given that the 24-year-old defender already has close to half a century of caps for his country, who he represented at the 2018 World Cup. Also in LaLiga is Moses Simon, the Levante winger who has also played many times for his country and who would have been likely to go to Russia in the summer had he not been injured. The 23-year-old has just signed for Levante from Gent, for whom he scored six times and provided three assists in the Belgian league last season.
Then there’s goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, who played every minute of Nigeria’s World Cup campaign and who made some impressive parries for his country. At just 19 years of age, he is a really special prospect and he’ll be playing in Spain too this season, as he’ll be at Deportivo La Coruña. Their senior team are playing in LaLiga 1|2|3, the second tier of Spanish football, and it remains to be seen if he’ll make the jump up from the B team, but sooner or later he’ll likely be making excellent saves against some of the best strikers in the country.
There are actually a number of African players in the Spanish second division this season. Numancia have Senegalese midfielder Pape Maly Diamanka and Ghanaian winger Yaw Yeboah. Lugo have Cameroonian duo Jean Marie Dongou and Serge Leuko, as well as Nigerian midfielder Ramon Azeez. Gimnàstic de Tarragona have another Nigerian, in the form of striker Ikechukwu Uche, while Cameroonian defender Mohammed Djetei is also at the Catalan club. Then there’s Almería’s Cameroonian defender Lucien Owona, Mallorca’s Ivorian forward Lago Junior and Elche’s Guinean forward Sory Kaba.
Returning to the top flight, there are some other African stars not yet mentioned who are worth looking out for as they come up against the likes of Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Luka Modrić in the coming season.
Real Betis are an exciting possession-based team who will fight for European qualification and they boast Algerian pair Aïssa Mandi and Ryad Boudebouz among their ranks. Cheick Doukouré of the Ivory Coast will be expected to step up and to take on more responsibility at Levante this year after they lost Jefferson Lerma in the transfer window. Togo international Djené Dakonam plays for Getafe and is one of the best centre-backs in the entire league, while big things are expected of his 20-year-old teammate Merveil Ndockyt, a Republic of the Congo midfielder with a bright future. Elsewhere in Madrid, Rayo Vallecano will hope wingers Gaël Kakuta and Lass Bangoura – of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and of Guinea respectively – can score the goals to keep them up.
Over the course of the 2018/19 LaLiga campaign, there will be some mouth-watering clashes between international teammates from these African countries. It promises to be a season with a significant African feel.
Sports
Moniepoint MFB Launches ‘Made for your Progress’ Campaign, Unveils Prolific Striker Victor Osimhen as Brand Ambassador


Moniepoint Microfinance Bank (MFB), Nigeria’s definitive and trusted business and personal banking platform, has launched its new brand campaign, “Made for Your Progress,” reaffirming its commitment to powering the dreams of millions of Nigerians.
To signpost this message of aspiration and achievement, Moniepoint also proudly announces the appointment of Nigerian football star, Victor Osimhen, as its brand ambassador.
The “Made for your Progress” campaign establishes Moniepoint MFB as the financial partner for Nigeria’s huge aspirational, ambitious and gritty doers across all spheres of human endeavour.
At its core, the campaign celebrates the real people making real moves on their journey to success. It spotlights the small, medium, and big everyday victories that lead to customer growth, underlining Moniepoint’s commitment to being a reliable, sophisticated, and approachable financial partner.
“At Moniepoint, we have always believed that the ambitions of Nigerians are the bedrock of our economy as evidenced by the informal economy’s contributions to GDP. We celebrate the people behind the many businesses we serve, and the individuals who have created value with our personal banking service, ” said Babatunde Olofin, Managing Director of Moniepoint MFB.
“’Made for your Progress’ is our promise to every Nigerian with a dream – that we will provide the financial comfort, confidence, and freedom they need to focus on building those dreams. We exist to recognize and power their journey.”
He continues, “Progress looks different for everyone, and we exist to support each unique journey. With this campaign, we are shining a light on the real people and small victories that make up the fabric of Nigeria’s growth story. Our commitment is to deliver financial happiness by being the most reliable and innovative partner for individuals and businesses nationwide.”
Victor Osimhen, whose story of resilience and achievement mirrors the campaign’s ethos. Osimhen’s inspiring “grass-to-grace” story of determination, resilience, and achievement resonates deeply with the spirit of the Moniepoint brand and the audience it serves.
His journey from the streets of Olusosun in Lagos to becoming an elite goal scorer on the world stage is the stuff of dreams for millions of Nigerians. From humble beginnings to becoming one of Africa’s most celebrated football exports, Osimhen embodies the spirit of ambition, hard work, triumph and the Nigerian hustle.
Speaking about his role, Victor Osimhen said, “ My journey has always been about believing in progress, no matter the challenges. That is why I am proud to be associated with Moniepoint, a brand that truly supports people’s dreams and celebrates their wins, big or small. Together, we will inspire millions of Nigerians to keep striving for more.”
Lauding Moniepoint MFB, he said, ”Their belief that every dream is valid and their commitment to powering progress aligns perfectly with my own life journey. ‘Made for your Progress’ is not a fancy, feel-good slogan; it’s a message of hope and a promise of support that I am proud to champion.”
Osimhen, who recently joined Turkish giants, Galatasaray on a permanent deal for a fee in the region of €75 million, in a move which broke the Turkish Süper Lig’s all-time transfer record brings both grassroots authenticity and global recognition to the partnership.
As part of its move to deepen financial inclusion, while powering the progress of individuals, it will be recalled that Moniepoint MFB launched its personal banking service in August 2023 to offer a comprehensive range of solutions designed to make personal financial management seamless and accessible.
Key offerings include a personal banking app that enables users to easily make transfers, pay bills, and purchase airtime.
The service is complemented by a Moniepoint debit card usable at ATMs, POS terminals, and online, backed by a reliable payment infrastructure trusted by over 10 million businesses in Nigeria.
The campaign will feature integrated marketing communications across traditional and digital platforms, showcasing diverse customer stories and highlighting how Moniepoint’s innovative products and services enable real progress in people’s lives.
With this campaign, Moniepoint MFB will reinvent its products and services as being more than a transactional tool, but as Nigeria’s definitive financial institution that fuels ambition, powers dreams, and delivers financial comfort, confidence, and freedom with security and reliability to boot.
Sports
Liverpool Beats Arsenal 1:0 as MTN Thrills Fans with Watch Party


Liverpool beat Arsenal 1-0 in a tense Premier League clash on Sunday, August 31. Reds fans erupted in wild celebration at MTN’s Watch Party at Bay Lounge, Lekki.
The game lived up to expectations as one of the weekend’s biggest fixtures. Arsenal enjoyed more possession but couldn’t make it count, while Liverpool’s persistence finally paid off. Dominik Szoboszlai struck a superb free-kick in the 83rd minute to hand the Reds victory. Despite Arsenal’s late push, Liverpool held firm to secure the win and send fans at the MTN watch party into celebration.
MTN, as the official broadcast sponsor of the Premier League on SuperSport, staged the event as part of its commitment to football in Nigeria. The company also serves as the official communications partner of the Nigeria Football Federation for national teams and a co-sponsor of the Nationwide League One.
Ekundayo Fatoki, Senior Manager, Sales and Distribution, MTN Nigeria, said football is central to how the company connects with its customers. “Football is a key passion point for every Nigerian, no matter their background. Football unites all of us. MTN is tapping into the passion points of Nigerians, to show our love to our customers and our commitment to them,” he said.
He noted that the company invests at every level of the game. “We’re heavily involved in a lot of Nigerian leagues, like NLO, and we heavily sponsored and supported even the under-15 NPFL that happened in Remo. So, we’ve done a lot, trying to support local football, going to the fringes to sponsor football-related events and see how we can empower and build up football talent and bring them to life.”
The watch party featured dance and singing from fans. The energy tied neatly with MTN’s ongoing Next Afrobeats Star talent show, which is aimed at discovering Nigeria’s next global Afrobeats sensation, with prizes worth over $100,000. Winners of games and challenges at the event also walked away with MTN products, adding to the excitement of the night.
For Liverpool fans, Szoboszlai’s late strike was the perfect ending. For MTN, the night reinforced how the beautiful game continues to bring Nigerians together, while underscoring the brand’s broader commitment to creating experiences that engage, delight, and connect with its customers.
Sports
Hope Uzodimma Backs Chiney Ogwumike’s Vision for Girl-Child Empowerment Through Sports
Report by ORJI ISRAEL


The Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, on Monday, warmly received Imo-born American basketball player and ESPN host, Chiney Ogwumike, who visited the State to launch her foundation dedicated to empowering the girl-child through sports.
On behalf of the Governor, the Deputy Governor, Her Excellency Lady Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru, PhD, warmly welcomed the American superstar to the State, describing her as a shining example of the excellence of Imo women in sports and other sectors.


She reiterated the State Government’s commitment to talent hunt and sports development, recalling how the Governor recently hosted the triumphant Super Falcons of Imo state extraction and rewarded them handsomely for their commendable roles in the successful outing of the Super Falcons at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The Deputy Governor commended Ms. Ogwumike for her vision to inspire and support young girls in the state, pursuing their dreams through basketball and other sports. She noted that her remarkable gesture aligns with Governor Uzodimma’s broader vision of creating opportunities for youths across Imo State. She assured her of the government’s readiness to partner with well-meaning Imolites and Nigerians to bring positive development to the State.
Chiney Ogwumike is not only a celebrated WNBA athlete but also a global trailblazer whose achievements resonate deeply. In 2020, she became the first Black woman and the first WNBA player to host a national radio show for ESPN, and one of the youngest commentators ever named as an NBA analyst.
By 2016, she was elected vice-president of the WNBA Players Association, and in October 2023, she made history again as the youngest woman on the White House’s inaugural Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States. Recognized globally, she is a 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree and an Executive Producer of the ESPN Films documentary 144, which chronicled the 2020 WNBA season.
In her address, Ms. Ogwumike expressed her commitment to helping young girls in Imo pursue their career in sports, especially, basketball. She credited her Igbo heritage for instilling in her the resilience and drive that propelled her to global success, pledging to use her platform to inspire the next generation of talents.
Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Obinna Onyeocha and the Commissioner for Youths and Talent Hunt, Hon. Emeka Ukaegbu, praised Ms. Ogwumike for being a true ambassador of Imo State. They pledged that the Government would support her foundation in achieving its objectives.
Also present at the event were her father, Nze Peter Ogwumike, senior government officials, and stakeholders in sports and youth development.
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