Sports
Jalingo Champions League Organisers Seek Greater Government Backing for Grassroots Sports Development
By Aga Samuel Imoter, Jalingo
Organisers of the Jalingo Champions League have called for increased government investment in grassroots sports development, describing sports as a strategic vehicle for youth empowerment, talent discovery, crime prevention and socio-economic development.The appeal was made during the group stage of the ongoing Jalingo Champions League at the Jolly Nyame Stadium in Jalingo, Taraba State.
Speaking with journalists, the Ambassador of the Jalingo Champions League and Youth Development, Dr. Daniel Buba, said the competition was established to provide a constructive platform for young people to develop their talents while steering them away from crime, violence, drug abuse and other social vices.
He noted that sustained investment in grassroots sports would not only nurture future professional athletes but also create employment opportunities, promote entrepreneurship and contribute meaningfully to the state’s economic growth. Dr. Buba commended Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, for establishing the Taraba State Sports Commission, describing the initiative as a significant milestone in the administration’s efforts to reposition sports as a catalyst for youth development.
He, however, urged the state government to deepen its commitment by providing sustained financial and institutional support for grassroots sporting competitions across football and other disciplines, stressing that sports development should not be left solely in the hands of private individuals and organisations.
According to him, stronger collaboration between the government and private sector would strengthen talent identification programmes, expand opportunities for young athletes and position Taraba as a leading centre for sports development in Nigeria.
He also urged participating teams to uphold the principles of discipline, teamwork, respect and fair play, adding that the values cultivated through sports should translate into peaceful coexistence and responsible citizenship within their communities.
Also speaking, the organiser of the tournament, Mr. Jacob, described the Jalingo Champions League as a talent development initiative designed to identify promising footballers and provide young people with a productive alternative to street life and other negative influences.
He said the competition had continued to serve as a platform for aspiring footballers to showcase their abilities before scouts and football stakeholders, expressing optimism that players discovered through the tournament would eventually progress to professional clubs both within and outside Nigeria. “My greatest ambition is to see players from this competition earn professional contracts and compete on the international stage,” he said.
Mr. Jacob observed that while private initiatives have sustained grassroots football development in the state, greater government support is essential to unlock the enormous potential of young athletes. He called on the Taraba State Government to revive Taraba United Football Club and restore the state’s presence in Nigeria’s professional football league, noting that a functional state-owned club would provide a clear pathway for local talents to transition into professional football while bringing league matches back to Taraba.
According to him, the prolonged inactivity of Taraba United has deprived many talented youths of opportunities to showcase their abilities at the highest domestic level.He disclosed that the organisers are actively pursuing partnerships with reputable football academies, clubs and talent scouts to facilitate the progression of outstanding players from the tournament into professional football.
Recalling the previous edition of the competition, he revealed that one of the tournament’s standout players secured an opportunity with the Samson Siasia Academy but was unable to complete the process after being disqualified under circumstances beyond the organisers’ control.
He appealed to government agencies, corporate organisations, football administrators and development partners to support the Jalingo Champions League through sponsorship, talent development programmes and scouting initiatives, expressing confidence that sustained investment in grassroots football would produce players capable of excelling in domestic leagues and representing Nigeria on the international stage.
By Abigail David
Chelsea forward Joao Pedro has emerged as the Premier League’s leading pre-season goalscorer, while Arsenal signing Christos Tzolis finished top of the assists chart ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
Joao Pedro scored seven goals during Chelsea’s pre-season preparations, including a nine-minute hat-trick against Western Sydney Wanderers and braces against AC Milan and Real Sociedad.
Aston Villa teenager Brian Madjo followed with five goals, while Nottingham Forest’s Igor Jesus and Crystal Palace’s Matheus Franca scored four each.
Several players recorded three goals, including Bournemouth’s Evanilson and Justin Kluivert, Brentford’s Igor Thiago, Crystal Palace’s Eddie Nketiah and Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo.
Tzolis tops assists chart
Tzolis provided six assists during Arsenal’s pre-season campaign. He also registered two assists in the Community Shield victory over Manchester City and earned a Fantasy assist after winning a penalty against Borussia Dortmund.
Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo finished second with five assists, while Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendia recorded four.
Top pre-season goalscorers
| Player | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Joao Pedro | 7 | Chelsea |
| Brian Madjo | 5 | Aston Villa |
| Matheus Franca | 4 | Crystal Palace |
| Igor Jesus | 4 | Nottingham Forest |
| Evanilson | 3 | Bournemouth |
| Justin Kluivert | 3 | Bournemouth |
| Igor Thiago | 3 | Brentford |
| Eddie Nketiah | 3 | Crystal Palace |
| Thierno Barry | 3 | Everton |
| Dominic Calvert-Lewin | 3 | Leeds |
| Lukas Nmecha | 3 | Leeds |
| Bryan Mbeumo | 3 | Man United |
| Arnaud Kalimuendo | 3 | Nottingham Forest |
| Enzo Le Fee | 3 | Sunderland |
| Richarlison | 3 | Tottenham |
Top pre-season assisters
| Player | Assists | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Christos Tzolis | 6 | Arsenal |
| Antoine Semenyo | 5 | Man City |
| Emiliano Buendia | 4 | Aston Villa |
| Daniel Jebbison | 3 | Bournemouth |
| Jamie Gittens | 3 | Chelsea |
| Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall | 3 | Everton |
| Morgan Gibbs-White | 3 | Nottingham Forest |
| Mathys Tel | 3 | Tottenham |
The new Premier League season is scheduled to begin on August 21, with the pre-season figures providing an early indication of players who could make an impact.
By Abigail David
Premier League clubs have completed their final preparations for the 2026/27 season, with teams recording mixed results in their final summer friendlies.
Brentford produced the biggest win of the final round, thrashing Eintracht Frankfurt 7-0, while Chelsea, Brighton, Fulham, Ipswich Town, Sunderland and Nottingham Forest also ended pre-season with victories.
Arsenal defeated Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield, while Manchester United suffered a 4-2 loss to AC Milan. Aston Villa also ended their preparations with a 2-1 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach.
Liverpool recorded a 2-0 victory over Como in one of their final pre-season matches, while Tottenham beat Hoffenheim 3-0 before a second meeting between the clubs ended 2-2.
Here is the club-by-club summary of the 2026/27 pre-season:
Arsenal
- MK Dons 0-3 Arsenal
- Arsenal 4-1 Girona
- Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
- Arsenal 2-3 Borussia Dortmund
- Arsenal 1-1 Como (won on penalties)
- Arsenal 3-0 Manchester City (Community Shield)
Aston Villa
- Walsall 0-5 Aston Villa
- Porto 2-1 Aston Villa
- Aston Villa 2-4 Real Sociedad
- Indonesia All-Stars 1-3 Aston Villa
- BG Pathum United 1-3 Aston Villa
- Bayern Munich 2-1 Aston Villa
- PSG 2-1 Aston Villa (UEFA Super Cup)
- Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1 Aston Villa
Bournemouth
- St Pauli 1-4 Bournemouth
- Bournemouth 5-2 Augsburg
- Genoa 1-10 Bournemouth
- Real Betis 2-2 Bournemouth
- Mainz 2-1 Bournemouth
Brentford
- Brentford 3-2 AFC Wimbledon
- Brentford 4-1 Wycombe
- Rennes 1-2 Brentford
- Brentford 7-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
Brighton
- Brighton 4-1 Wycombe Wanderers
- Brighton 4-3 Strasbourg
- Brighton 3-0 Roma
- Brighton 1-0 Bologna
Chelsea
- Western Sydney Wanderers 4-6 Chelsea
- Chelsea 1-2 Tottenham
- Chelsea 0-1 Juventus
- Chelsea 3-0 AC Milan
- Johor Darul Ta’zim 3-3 Chelsea
- Chelsea 3-1 Real Sociedad
Coventry City
- Wimbledon 3-2 Coventry
- Northampton Town 0-0 Coventry
- Leicester 0-1 Coventry
- West Brom 1-1 Coventry
- Coventry 3-1 Espanyol
- Coventry 2-0 Monaco
Crystal Palace
- Crystal Palace 5-1 Swindon
- Bromley 3-0 Crystal Palace
- Famalicao 0-0 Crystal Palace
- Lens 3-0 Crystal Palace
- Fulham 1-2 Crystal Palace
- Freiburg 3-0 Crystal Palace
Everton
- Dundee 0-4 Everton
- Bolton 0-0 Everton
- Stoke 1-0 Everton
- Hamburg 1-2 Everton
- Stuttgart 3-1 Everton
- Newcastle 1-3 Everton
Fulham
- Fulham 0-2 Norwich
- Al-Ahli 1-1 Fulham
- Farense 1-2 Fulham
- Fulham 1-2 Crystal Palace
- Malaga 2-2 Fulham
- Fulham 1-0 Stuttgart
Hull City
- Konyaspor 0-3 Hull
- Caykur Rizespor 1-2 Hull
- Hull 1-1 Kasimpasa
- Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 Hull
- Hull 0-0 Nice
Ipswich Town
- Ipswich 1-2 Osasuna
- Oxford United 0-2 Ipswich
- Wycombe 1-2 Ipswich
- Ipswich 1-0 Le Havre
- Ipswich 3-0 Rayo Vallecano
- Union Berlin 2-4 Ipswich
Leeds United
- Leeds 2-3 Wrexham
- Leeds 1-0 Sunderland
- Liverpool 2-4 Leeds
- Leeds 2-0 RB Leipzig
- Manchester United 1-1 Leeds
Liverpool
- Liverpool 4-2 Sunderland
- Liverpool 1-0 Wrexham
- Liverpool 2-4 Leeds
- Liverpool 2-3 Monaco
- Liverpool 0-0 Como
- Liverpool 2-0 Como
Manchester City
- Manchester City 1-1 Inter Milan
- K-League All-Stars 1-3 Manchester City
- Manchester City 3-1 Atletico Madrid
- Arsenal 3-0 Manchester City (Community Shield)
Manchester United
- Manchester United 0-1 Wrexham
- Rosenborg 0-5 Manchester United
- Manchester United 2-1 Atletico Madrid
- PSG 1-1 Manchester United
- Manchester United 1-1 Leeds
- Manchester United 2-4 AC Milan
Newcastle United
- Newcastle 3-0 Darlington
- Gateshead 1-1 Newcastle
- Newcastle 1-4 Bristol City
- Valencia 1-2 Newcastle
- Newcastle 1-3 Everton
- Newcastle 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen
- Newcastle 1-1 Strasbourg
Nottingham Forest
- Notts County 0-2 Nottingham Forest
- Nottingham Forest 3-0 Blackburn
- Vitoria 1-1 Nottingham Forest
- Sporting 4-1 Nottingham Forest
- Portimonense 1-2 Nottingham Forest
- Udinese 1-0 Nottingham Forest
- Barcelona 1-0 Nottingham Forest
- Nottingham Forest 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen
- Nottingham Forest 2-0 Brest
Sunderland
- York City 1-5 Sunderland
- Liverpool 4-2 Sunderland
- Sunderland 0-1 Leeds
- Sunderland 1-0 Wrexham
- Lens 4-1 Sunderland
- Lens 0-2 Sunderland
- Sunderland 2-1 Rennes
Tottenham Hotspur
- Tottenham 1-0 MK Dons
- Auckland FC 0-2 Tottenham
- Tottenham 1-1 Sydney FC
- Chelsea 1-2 Tottenham
- Tottenham 1-1 Getafe
- Tottenham 3-0 Hoffenheim
- Tottenham 2-2 Hoffenheim
The new Premier League season is scheduled to begin on Friday, August 21, with defending champions Arsenal hosting newly promoted Coventry City.
By Abigail David
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says the political crisis in Rivers State prevented Governor Siminalayi Fubara from pursuing a second term, blaming the situation on what he described as poor political advice and the influence of external interests.
Speaking during his monthly media chat aired on Tuesday, Wike said he repeatedly advised Fubara to preserve the political structure that supported his emergence as governor rather than distance himself from it.
The former Rivers State governor said he expected his successor to build on the foundation laid by his administration, adding that continuity would have benefited the state.
Wike also claimed that individuals who initially opposed Fubara’s governorship later became his close associates and encouraged him to challenge those who supported his rise to office.
According to the minister, the political fallout ultimately affected Fubara’s chances of seeking another term in office.
He disclosed that attempts were made to reconcile both camps but said political considerations prevented a lasting resolution.
Wike further alleged that some external interests sought to influence political developments in Rivers State for personal gain, accusing them of giving the governor advice that deepened the crisis.
Despite the disagreement, Wike said his support for Fubara at the time of his election reflected the confidence he had in him.
The political dispute between Wike and Fubara began shortly after the governor assumed office in 2023 and later escalated into a prolonged crisis involving the Rivers State House of Assembly. The conflict eventually drew federal intervention before political tensions eased.
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