Sports
Nigeria Has No Business Not being at the World Cup – Coach Anthony Adedeji
The UEFA licensed coach said this during a recent interview with Brandfit


Switzerland-based Nigerian coach, and former national team player, Anthony Adeyemi Adedeji, has said that the Super Eagles of Nigeria have no business not being at the FIFA World Cup and should have won the African Cup of Nations if they had technical guidance.
The UEFA licensed coach said this during a recent interview with Brandfit.ng.
He said, “When I speak about tactics and what I see some people think I just want to criticize but I am not an armchair critique because in my league here in Europe I have been winning my league for years so I know what I am saying. Nigeria did not qualify because our coach played direct football which is easily readable and predictable. He showed his hands by consistently focusing on Moses Simon.”
It would be remembered before and during the African Cup of Nations in Cameroun, who manages FC Gossua said severally that Nigeria needed a technically active coach if the Super Eagles are to win the continental football festival and qualify for the world.
In a live sports programme called Sports Ville aired on Channels TV, the multiple trophy-winning cups said Nigeria will not make it to the quarter-finals at the African Cup of Nations because the technical bench is not well-equipped to manage Europe trained players.
According to him, “I respect Coach Austin as a great coach but he has not been on the pitch for some time and it was too sudden to get him involved without an upgrade in his technical knowledge. I said at the programme that if we don’t get a tactically sound coach for the Super Eagles, we would not get to the quarter-finals of the Cup of Nations. My co-guest disagreed with me and I promised to get him anything he mentions if Nigeria gets to the quarter-final and to some it sounded like I wasn’t patriotic but I knew what I was saying.”
He continued, “You saw how a low performing Tunisia tactically defeated a better-skilled Super Eagles. The Ghanaians got an English Premier League coach, Hudson, a tactical gift and tested coach and they defeated us. They are going to the World Cup while we will watch from Nigeria. I am not happy we are not going to be at the World. We can have Nigerian coaches manage the senior and youth teams but they have to be the best and must acquire the requisite modern qualification and knowledge in coaching because football knowledge is moving fast and you can’t afford to use the knowledge you acquired two years ago today.”
The coach has managed several European clubs in the past 13 years winning trophies. He has coached the Under 14, Under 16, Under 17, Under 21, Under 23, and currently coaching the senior team of FC Gossua since 2020 till date.
The former Flaming Flamingo Stationery Stores player won the 1998 Oba Cup with Flaming Flamingoes, and captained India National FC, New Delhi, in the 1999/2000 season to emerge as League Champions for the first time after 48 years, the same year Tony joined the team.
“Nigerian coaches have performed far better than foreign coaches with the Super Eagles, coaches like Stephen Keshi, Shuabu Ahmodu. We don’t have the best indigenous coach in Nigeria aside from the technical sound coach Emmanuel Amuneke but he wasn’t given the chance to lead the team? Nigerian Super Eagles is a very big brand and we should never experiment with it. We should not get a coach just because of the colour of his skin but the value he can bring to the team,” he said.
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.