Present in a recent inspection tour was Sports Minister Solomon Dalung, and listening to both men talk, the mandate is simple: to return the National Stadium to a place of pride in national sports.

Last season saw the return of Enugu Rangers to the pinnacle of Nigerian football. It was a mythical curse put to death. A sixth title placed them in second place behind only Enyimba in the all-time standing.

The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations will this Sunday come to an end. It is a tournament that has had it all so far: great goals, upsets, rousing underdog stories; the fireworks.

We’ve all heard and felt it. The hysteria surrounding the cash-fuelled rise of the Chinese Super League (CSL), and how their money is the enemy and those who are seduced by it are mercenaries and charlatans for wanting a better life.

In fact, going by the December 2016 FIFA rankings, Nigeria is the only nation in Africa’s top ten that will not be putting in an appearance. From winning a third crown in 2013, to missing two on the bounce: it has been quite the fall from grace.

My early memories of sports growing up was watching Mary Onyali-Omagbemi anchor Nigeria’s women 4×100m relay team to a bronze medal and Olapade Adeniken’s lightening pace helping the men’s 4×100m team to silver .....

You can only cover up excrement so long before it starts to stink. The story is becoming annoyingly familiar at this point: Nigeria’s participation ...

It would appear it is this same path that Jordon Ibe desires to tread. The 20-year-old Bournemouth winger has reportedly indicated his interest in the Nigeria national team

Where else to begin but with the situation surrounding the Super Falcons’ preparation for the African Women’s Nations Cup in Cameroon. Just over a week away, Nigeria ...

The Federation Cup, in its previous iterations, has always had pride of place in Nigerian football. It was not until 1972 that organised league football began in Nigeria ...

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick and his board appear to be caught between a rock and a hard place, trying to steer the country’s game away from mediocrity.

It’s no news that Nigeria closed the Rio Paralympics with eight gold, two silvers and two bronze medals to finish 17th in the overall medals table and top other African countries.