Sports
Scotland as Louis Rees-Zammit leaves everyone open-mouthed
Louis Rees-Zammit’s double helped hand Wayne Pivac his first away win as Wales coach as they hit back to stun 14-man Scotland 25-24 at Murrayfield.
Wales’ Louis Rees-Zammit (right) celebrates scoring his sides fourth try during the Guinness Six Nations match at BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh. Picture date: Saturday February 13, 2021.
Gregor Townsend’s team were looking to build on last week’s historic Twickenham victory over England, and got off to the perfect start with tries from Darcy Graham and Stuart Hogg.
But their hopes were wrecked when Zander Fagerson was sent off for a dangerous clear-out and Wales ruthlessly exploited their man advantage.
Gloucester wing Rees-Zammit had scored just before half-time to keep Wales in the contest, with his second – after Liam Williams and Wyn Jones had also crossed over – confirming a bonus point.
Hogg did briefly put Scotland back in front, but Pivac’s team held their nerve to claim their first win on foreign soil in five attempts under Warren Gatland’s replacement.
There was no repeat of last week’s Twickenham knee-gate row as all 23 Scotland players plus the visitors remained standing with heads bowed during the ‘moment of reflection’ called for by the tournament organisers to show support for the fight against racism.
Some remarkable discipline saw the Scots pinged just six times against the Auld Enemy, but they were not quite so tight this time, handing over three penalties inside the opening seven minutes.
Leigh Halfpenny slotted over the first points of the day but they were quickly matched up as Finn Russell responded.
The Scotland fly-half was one of the chief architects of that Twickenham triumph and he was flying by the seat of his pants again this time, chucking around passes so flat they missed Welsh noses by mere millimetres.
And it was from his daring offload to Jonny Gray that the opening try came after 19 minutes. The big lock did not have the speed to go all the way, but Scotland recycled possession before Ali Price’s sublime chip over the static Welsh defence dropped into Darcy Graham’s hands and he scampered round Halfpenny to dot down under the posts.
It was a despairing effort from the Welsh full-back but he should have done much better six minutes later.
Hogg started and finished the move that brought the second as he chipped over the back of the visitors.
The ball should have been easily gathered by Halfpenny, but instead he let it tumble from his grasp as his opposite number appeared in a flash to scoop the ball up and slide over the line to put his team 17-3 up seemingly on course for victory.
Halfpenny ended up going off to have a head knock assessed after a mid-air clattering with Graham, who was looking a threat every time he got his hands on the ball.
His namesake, Scotland replacement Gary Graham, who had taken over from the concussed Blade Thomson early, was also proving a menace – to his own side.
First he wrecked a good scoring chance by getting caught on top of the ball at a ruck, before giving Wales good territory with a high tackle on Taulupe Faletau.
It was a costly mistake as Wales got the momentum changer they desperately needed 90 seconds before the break. Tying the Scotland pack up at the breakdown, the visitors worked the ball wide through Tompkins and Williams before Rees-Zammit ran in for the touchdown.
Scotland hoped that was just a blip. It may have been had Scott Cummings not denied Gary Graham the chance to make amends after 48 minutes as he was ruled to have obstructed the Wales defence as Darcy Graham charged over the line.
And instead of going two scores in front, Townsend’s team found their lead trimmed back to two points a minute later as the Welsh pack careered forward from a devastating line-out maul before Rees-Zammit released Williams in space to score.
Things went from bad to worse for the hosts after 53 minutes as Fagerson got his marching orders for slamming into Jones with an illegal clear-out.
Against 14 men, Pivac’s team needed just 90 seconds to nudge in front as Jones barged over from another well-executed line-out manoeuvre.
Scotland still had plenty of time to respond but they needed someone to take command.
Up stepped Hogg as he collected a Russell pass before setting off on a 15-metre rampage towards the corner as he brushed off Owen Watkin and Tompkins before getting the ball down on the line.
But Wales simply had too much space to play with and they claimed the win with 10 minutes left as Rees-Zammit chipped the ball over Hogg’s head before racing through to claim the bonus point.
Scotland fought to the end but their hopes were dashed in stoppage time as Hogg failed to hold onto Duhan van der Merwe’s desperate last charge.
Sports
FirstBank Sponsors Samuel Okwaraji U-16 Football Championship 2026, Promotes Education Through School Sports
FirstBank Sponsors Samuel Okwaraji U-16 Football Championship 2026, Promotes Education Through School Sports
Lagos, 31 March 2026 – FirstBank, the premier bank in West Africa and a leading financial inclusion service provider, is thrilled to announce its sponsorship of the maiden edition of the Samuel Okwaraji Under 16 Football Championship, a nationwide youth football tournament organised to honour the late Samuel Okwaraji, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated football legends renowned for his patriotism, discipline, and commitment to national service.
The tournament will engage secondary schools from all 36 states and the FCT, in a two-stage competition. The first stage will feature zonal eliminations across the six geopolitical zones, followed by a national final in Abuja featuring the top 12 qualifying teams. The event will also include cultural displays, memorial lectures, and talent scouting opportunities by national team coaches, ensuring a blend of sporting excellence and social impact.
Speaking on the sponsorship, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, Olusegun Alebiosu, said: “Football is the strongest unifier of Nigerians. It brings communities together, inspires discipline, and nurtures talents across the country. FirstBank is making a deliberate incursion into grassroots football development with this sponsorship, creating an enabling environment for the next generation of Samuel Okwarajis to discover, refine, and maximise their potential, thereby shaping the future of Nigerian football.”
In his remarks, Senator Osita Izunaso, the Chairman of the Championship Organising Committee commended FirstBank for throwing its weight around the championship. He said “FirstBank’s legacy predates modern Nigerian football. The bank has once again shown that true corporate leadership lies in nation building. We thank FirstBank for their participation in this championship and we hope that other corporates will take a leaf and provide an enabling environment for young ones to thrive in education through sports.”
Through its First@Sports initiative, FirstBank has sustained an unbroken role in promoting the development of football and sports across Nigeria. The Bank is invested in nurturing talent through its ownership of the Elephant Boys Football Team currently competing in the Nigerian National League. The FirstBank Basketball Club popular known as the “Elephant Girls” is also owned by the Bank.
The Bank has supported youth-oriented and sporting initiatives including the National Sports Festival, South-West Youth Games, the Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship for 35 years, Lagos Amateur Golf Open Championship for 65 years, and the Georgian Polo Cup for 105 years.
The Bank’s sponsorship of the Samuel Okwaraji U-16 Tournament underscores its commitment to national unity, empowering communities, and fostering youth development.
Sports
Adeniyi Urges Customs Officers to Stay Fit, Commissions Sports Arena at Western Marine Command
Adeniyi Urges Customs Officers to Stay Fit, Commissions Sports Arena at Western Marine Command
By Ifeoma Ikem
Sports
Fans Mock Pinnick’s ‘Morocco-Level’ Pitch Claim as Credibility Debate Returns to Nigerian Football
Fans Mock Pinnick’s ‘Morocco-Level’ Pitch Claim as Credibility Debate Returns to Nigerian Football
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG
“Former NFF boss promises five world-class surfaces in 18 months, but supporters question record and reality.”
A fresh controversy has erupted in Nigerian football after former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president and FIFA Council member Amaju Melvin Pinnick declared that Nigeria would soon have football pitches comparable to those used at major tournaments in Morocco. The statement, intended to signal a new phase of infrastructure upgrades, instead triggered widespread skepticism among fans.
The backlash followed Pinnick’s remarks in early February 2026, when he said Nigeria would have at least five pitches matching Moroccan standards within 18 months. According to him, the team responsible for Morocco’s acclaimed stadium surfaces had already arrived in Nigeria to begin the upgrades. He identified the targeted venues as Warri City Stadium, two stadiums in Bayelsa State, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, and the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
Rather than inspiring confidence, the announcement was met with sarcasm and disbelief across social media. Many supporters dismissed the claim as unrealistic, pointing to the current state of numerous Nigerian pitches, several of which have failed to meet international standards in recent years. Some fans described the promise as something to “believe at your own risk,” reflecting deep mistrust toward football administrators.
The reaction comes against the backdrop of long-standing infrastructure problems in Nigerian football. For years, the country has struggled to maintain stadiums to the standards required by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). On multiple occasions, national-team matches have been moved or played in alternative venues because approved facilities were unavailable.
Pinnick himself has previously acknowledged the depth of the problem. In earlier interviews, he admitted that many Nigerian stadiums lack basic amenities and cannot meet international requirements, noting that the country is currently unable to host major FIFA competitions because of substandard facilities. He also contrasted Nigeria’s situation with Morocco’s, describing the North African country as having a “plug-and-play” football infrastructure capable of hosting major tournaments at short notice.
Morocco’s progress has been widely praised by football authorities. The country has invested heavily in modern stadiums, training facilities, and pitch technology, positioning itself as one of Africa’s leading hosts for international competitions. Its infrastructure upgrades have played a major role in securing hosting rights for major tournaments, including the Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria’s situation has followed a different trajectory. Many stadiums built or renovated at significant cost have deteriorated within a few years, often due to poor maintenance, irregular funding, and administrative disputes. Sports policy experts argue that the core problem is not simply the construction of facilities but the absence of sustainable management structures.
Global sports business scholar Professor Simon Chadwick has argued that infrastructure projects must be backed by sound governance. “Facilities are only as effective as the systems that sustain them,” he notes. “Without management discipline, even the best stadiums deteriorate quickly.”
Economist Andrew Zimbalist, a leading authority on sports infrastructure, has also warned that stadium promises often fail without transparent planning and long-term operational strategies. His research shows that politically driven projects frequently fall short of expectations when maintenance and funding models are unclear.
These broader concerns help explain the intensity of the reaction to Pinnick’s latest claim. Many supporters remember his eight-year tenure as NFF president from 2014 to 2022, a period that produced mixed results. While the national team qualified for major tournaments and maintained administrative stability, the infrastructure question remained largely unresolved.
Beyond public debate, the issue carries practical consequences. Stadium quality directly affects Nigeria’s ability to host international matches. When facilities fail to meet required standards, national teams are forced to play “home” fixtures in foreign countries, increasing costs and weakening home advantage.
The impact is also felt at the grassroots level. Without quality pitches, young players are forced to train in poor conditions that do not match international standards, creating long-term developmental disadvantages.
Supporters of Pinnick argue that the new plan could mark a genuine effort to address these long-standing problems. They note that the proposal involves collaboration with international pitch experts and focuses on specific stadiums rather than vague nationwide promises.
Critics, however, insist that credibility will depend entirely on execution. They argue that Nigerian football has heard similar assurances for decades, with little to show in terms of sustained improvement.
For now, the 18-month timeline has set a clear benchmark. If the promised upgrades materialize and the selected stadiums meet international standards, the initiative could help restore public confidence. Though if the deadline passes without visible results, the skepticism surrounding the announcement is likely to deepen.
In a football-obsessed nation, infrastructure promises are no longer judged by speeches or press statements. They are judged by results and by the condition of the pitch on match day.
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