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Nigeria Secures Top Italian Coach for 2025 African Fencing Championships

Our Reporters1 week ago1 week ago24 mins

As part of the strategic four-year partnership between the Nigerian Fencing Federation (NFF) and the Italian Fencing Federation (Federazione Italiana Scherma, FIS), a top-tier Italian coach will arrive in Lagos this June to work with the Nigerian team ahead of the 2025 African Senior Fencing Championships, which will take place from June 25 to 29 in Lagos. The partnership, signed in December 2024, aims to accelerate the development of fencing in Nigeria through technical support and knowledge exchange. The deployment of an elite Italian coach is one ofthe key deliverables of this collaboration. Riccardo Bardine, a highly respected figure in the international fencing community, will lead a two-week intensive training program for Nigerian coaches and athletes. Bardine is a certified fencing coach, strength and conditioning expert, and Paralympic sports specialist. He studied Sport Science and completed his fencing education at the prestigious Club Scherma Pisa Antonio Di Ciolo—one of the world’s most renowned fencing institutions. Bardine brings a wealth of experience, having coached at elite clubs such as Circolo Scherma La Spezia and Club Scherma Rapallo. He has also served on the coaching staff of Italy’s U17 National Épée Team and has trained top-level athletes in both foil and épée disciplines. As a former athlete, Bardine boasts an impressive résumé: a bronze medal at the Italian U23 Foil Championships, a silver at the National Team Championships (B Series, promoted to A Series), and two selections for the Junior National Épée Team at World Cups. He is also a certified Olympic weightlifting coach and specializes in physical preparation for both able-bodied and Paralympic athletes. Beyond the training camp, Bardine will lead the technical crew of TeamNigeria during the African Championships in Lagos. President of the Nigerian Fencing Federation, Adeyinka Samuel, expressed his excitement about the development, emphasizing the federation’s commitment to growing the sport and enhancing the capacity of both athletes and coaches. “This is one of the many benefits of our international partnership with a top fencing nation. Bringing a coach of Bardine’s caliber to Nigeria is not only cost-effective but also impactful, as it allows our coaches and athletes, both local and foreign-based, to learn directly from a world-class expert,” Samuel said. “We remain committed to seeking more support from both the private and public sectors as we work toward our ultimate goal: qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles,” Samuel said.

Unity Cup 2025: Africa Meets The Caribbean in London on GOtv

Our Reporters2 weeks ago2 weeks ago23 mins

The 2025 edition of the Unity Cup kicks off today in London. The competition returns after 21 years, ready to deliver a week of football, culture, and community. Running from May 27 to 31 at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, the tournament features four national teams: Nigeria, Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago, each competing in a straight knockout format. It’s football with flair, backed by a deeper mission: celebrating the enduring ties between Africa and the Caribbean. Today’s opener sees Trinidad & Tobago face Jamaica at 7:45 pm, while tomorrow brings a blockbuster clash between long-time West African rivals Nigeria and Ghana at 7 pm. Winners advance to the final on May 31, with a third-place playoff earlier that day. But Unity Cup 2025 is more than a sporting contest. It doubles as a diaspora culture festival, with music, food, and performances that reflect the richness of African and Caribbean heritage, especially among UK-based communities. Launched in 2002 to promote unity through sport, the tournament returns at a time when questions of identity, solidarity, and representation feel more urgent than ever. Its comeback is both timely and symbolic. For participating teams, the stakes go beyond pride. Nigeria, for example, sees the Unity Cup as a valuable warm-up ahead of their FIFA World Cup qualifiers, giving the coaching crew a chance to test combinations and sharpen the team’s rhythm. With top-level football, carnival-like atmosphere, and GOtv bringing it straight to your screen, Unity Cup 2025 is shaping up to be an unforgettable celebration of connection, on and off the pitch. Stay tuned to GOtv for match details and coverage updates.

Sports

CAF unveils Morocco AFCON 2025 new logo

Our Reporters4 months ago4 months ago03 mins

The countdown to Africa’s biggest event; the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025, celebrated a milestone on Sunday with the unveiling of the official Logo for the competition in Rabat, Morocco. The new logo, a modern and iconic symbol for African football, celebrates the heritage and unity of the African continent. The CAF AFCON finals, between 21 December 2025 and 18 January 2026 in Morocco, will be the latest chapter in the rich history of Africa’s greatest show and the logo for the tournament bridges the world of sport and art, and tells a story of pride, resilience and hope. Inspired by Moroccan ‘’zellij’’, a timeless mosaic art form, the tournament logo redefines football as a canvas where creativity, precision and passion collide. The CAF AFCON 2025 logo reflects the synergy between tradition and modernity. Each pattern and shape symbolizes the unity of nations, players and fans, echoing how football and art come together to create something extraordinary. Just as zellij pieces are meticulously crafted and assembled to form breathtaking designs, every moment in football builds toward a masterpiece of skill, teamwork and triumph. The vibrant colors; gold for achievement, green for unity, red for resilience and blue for boundless potential, go beyond mere aesthetics. They embody the spirit of African football, representing the energy of the game, the strength of the players and the passion of the fans. Merging the geometry of football with the intricate artistry of zellij, it captures the precision and movement of the game while honouring Africa’s cultural legacy. It is a celebration of African craftsmanship and the beauty of football’s dynamism. CAF AFCON 2025 will be a living gallery of African football, where every pass, goal and cheer from the fans contributes to the art of the game. It is more than a tournament, it is a stage where creativity, culture and sport come together to showcase Africa’s soul to the world.