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“We Must Prepare Better” — Olawale Laments Sand Eagles’ AFCON Failure After Ghana’s 7-4 Victory
Former Super Sand Eagles captain Isiaka Olawale has expressed disappointment over Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations, calling for improved preparations to prevent a repeat of the setback.
Nigeria’s qualification hopes ended on Sunday after Ghana’s Black Sharks secured a convincing 7-4 victory at the Emancipation Beach Soccer Arena in Keta, completing a 10-7 aggregate triumph over their West African rivals.
The teams had played out a 3-3 draw in the opening leg in Kaduna, leaving the qualification contest evenly balanced before the decisive encounter in Ghana.
Reacting to the elimination, Olawale said he had anticipated a difficult return fixture, particularly with Ghana enjoying home advantage and the backing of their supporters.
The former captain noted that the Black Sharks had already demonstrated their quality during the first leg, making it essential for Nigeria to approach the return encounter with adequate preparation.
He expressed sadness that the Sand Eagles could not overcome the challenge, despite the opportunity to revive Nigeria’s presence at the continental championship.
Olawale stressed that lessons must be drawn from the unsuccessful campaign, urging those responsible for the national team to put better arrangements in place ahead of future competitions.
Ghana’s victory secured their place at the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for November 7–15 in Senegal, while Nigeria will miss the continental finals.
The elimination represents another setback for Nigeria’s efforts to rebuild its beach soccer programme after a period of limited international participation.
For Olawale, the immediate priority is to address the shortcomings exposed by the two-legged contest, particularly the need for stronger preparations and sustained competitive activity.
With Ghana advancing to Senegal 2026, the Sand Eagles must now turn their attention to rebuilding a more competitive team capable of challenging for future continental qualification.
Nigerian female tennis umpire, Rose Onoja Abu, has earned recognition after officiating at the WTA 125 tournament in Luanda, Angola, marking a significant milestone in her professional career and another proud moment for Nigerian tennis.
Sports247 reports that the tournament made history as the first-ever WTA 125 event to be staged on African soil, bringing an important international women’s tennis competition to the continent. Abu’s involvement as an official at the landmark event further highlights Nigeria’s growing presence beyond the playing court in international tennis.
Her appointment and participation represent an encouraging achievement for Nigerian sports officiating, particularly for women working to establish themselves in the highly competitive world of international tennis administration.
Officiating at a tournament of this level requires professionalism, consistency, sound judgement and a strong understanding of the rules of the game. Abu’s presence at the Luanda event reflects the value of dedication and sustained commitment to developing a career in sports officiating.
The achievement also provides inspiration for aspiring Nigerian umpires and other sports professionals, demonstrating that opportunities at the highest levels can emerge through discipline, diligence and continuous improvement.
For Nigerian tennis, milestones such as this are important in showcasing the contributions of officials who help drive the sport forward, often away from the spotlight enjoyed by players.
While the WTA 125 assignment represents a significant step in Abu’s journey, it could also serve as a platform for greater opportunities on the international stage.
With consistency and continued dedication, the ambition of seeing a Nigerian umpire officiate at a Grand Slam tournament remains a possibility worth pursuing.
Congratulations to Rose Onoja Abu on this remarkable achievement. The journey continues, and a Grand Slam appearance could be the next milestone.
SanlamAllianz Life Insurance Nigeria Limited has launched Esusu, an innovative savings initiative designed to encourage a consistent savings culture, promote financial discipline and help Nigerians take practical steps towards achieving their financial goals.
Inspired by the traditional Nigerian Esusu savings system, the initiative combines the familiarity of regular savings practices with the added benefits of a structured insurance-backed savings arrangement. It provides individuals with an opportunity to build their savings through flexible daily contributions, with the option to make additional contributions as their financial capacity allows.
Through Esusu, customers can make regular contributions towards their savings goals and receive a maturity benefit based on their accumulated contributions, less applicable withdrawals, in line with the policy terms and conditions. The initiative also incorporates death cover, providing an additional layer of financial protection for beneficiaries in the event of an unfortunate occurrence, subject to applicable policy provisions.
Speaking at the launch, Tunde Mimiko, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, SanlamAllianz Life Insurance Limited, said: “At SanlamAllianz, we recognise that achieving financial confidence begins with the right financial habits. Saving should not be an overwhelming responsibility; it should be a consistent practice that individuals can incorporate into their everyday lives. With Esusu, we are bringing a familiar savings culture into a structured financial solution that encourages consistency while providing additional protection. Our goal is to empower more Nigerians to take charge of their financial future, one contribution at a time.”
The initiative reflects SanlamAllianz’s commitment to developing customer-focused solutions that respond to the evolving financial needs of Nigerians. By encouraging small, consistent contributions, Esusu seeks to demonstrate that building financial security does not necessarily require having large sums of money available at once. The product is available to eligible individuals between the ages of 18 and 80, subject to the applicable policy requirements and conditions.
Shedding more light on the product, Chris Ekwonwa, Group Head, Strategy, Marketing and Customer Relations, SanlamAllianz Nigeria, said: “Beyond providing a savings opportunity, Esusu reinforces the importance of financial literacy and long-term planning. It encourages individuals to become more intentional about managing their finances, preparing for future responsibilities and building a stronger financial foundation using a financial instrument they are very familiar with. With the campaign message “Esusu – Savings Wey Confam!”, SanlamAllianz is taking a relatable approach to financial empowerment, connecting with Nigerians through a savings concept deeply rooted in local culture while providing the structure and additional protection of an insurance solution.”
Industry watchers have long called for a retail driven product for the underserved markets, the launch of SanlamAllianz Esusu clearly is a stab at that target audience and expectations are rife as to the potential impact of the product.
SanlamAllianz Nigeria is no stranger to taking bold initiatives in the market space. With its first-of-its-kind SanlamAllianz Campus Takeover with Ayo Maff kicking off this weekend at the iconic OAU Amphitheatre at Ife, there are progressive signs that the brand is not paying lip service to its oft-stated quest to drive insurance penetration and financial inclusion in the Nigerian insurance market.
ABOUT SANLAMALLIANZ
SanlamAllianz is a Pan-African financial services joint venture between Sanlam, Africa’s largest non-banking financial services group, and Allianz, a global financial services and insurance leader.
In Nigeria, SanlamAllianz operates through its Life and General Insurance businesses, providing a range of insurance and financial solutions designed to protect individuals, families and businesses while supporting their financial aspirations.
The post SanlamAllianz Launches Esusu to Promote Savings Culture Among Nigerians appeared first on Business Today NG.
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