NRFF begins new era under Ademola with Ghana friendly

The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has wasted no time setting the tone for a new era under re-elected president Dr. Ademola Are, announcing an international friendly against Ghana to usher in his new term, Sport360NG reports.

The match, dubbed The Heritage Cup, will take place at the University of Ghana Rugby Stadium in Accra and will renew the age-old West African rivalry between Nigeria’s Stallions and the Ghana Eagles.

The contest is expected to be fiercely competitive, with both sides aiming to assert regional supremacy. It will also serve as the first official outing for the newly elected NRFF board following last weekend’s elections at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja, where Are was returned unopposed as president.

Speaking after his re-election, Are said the friendly aligns with the federation’s plans to maintain player activity while advancing broader development goals.

“This match is part of our plans to keep the players engaged while we finalise modalities for the league’s kickoff,” he said.
“Our focus is on inclusivity, ensuring that every geopolitical zone is represented and actively involved.”

Are also reiterated his commitment to promoting women’s rugby, describing it as central to the NRFF’s strategic vision.

“The Rugby Rising initiative provides a solid platform to bring more women into the game, which will, in turn, strengthen our female league in the near future,” he noted.
“We’re also set to host the Rugby Africa Regional Women’s Sevens Championship, featuring teams from across West Africa. There’s a lot to look forward to in terms of growth and development.”

Despite running unopposed, Are struck a humble tone, acknowledging the contributions of past leaders and colleagues in shaping the sport’s progress.

“I’m deeply thankful to all who have contributed to this sport’s journey. Our task now is to build on the solid foundation that has been laid and ensure that Nigerian rugby takes its rightful place on the continental and global stage.”

Are described the new NRFF board as a blend of “experience, capacity, and passion,” capable of driving transformation in the sport over the next four years.

“The next four years promise to be truly exciting. We’ve invested heavily in coaching programmes and plan to expand further. We also intend to introduce rugby into the NUGA Games, strengthen the national league, and attract sponsorship for our Sevens Circuit and para-military competitions. Our focus remains on grassroots development and creating a sustainable pathway for our national teams.”

Are secured all 13 votes to retain his position, while Iyorhe Grace was elected vice president with 11 votes, defeating Chinonye Aliyu, who received one.

Other members of the new NRFF board include Wuraola Hussaini (South West), Onyekachi Ibegbulam (South East), Emmanuel Godwin (South South), Salisu Garba (North East), Aliyu Mohammed (North West), Pius Longman (North Central), Azeez Ladipo (Athletes’ Representative), Angulu Suleiman (Technical Representative), Prof. Modupeola Banjo (AFFAN Representative), Ikhaobomeh Edem (NAWIS Representative), and Chinonye Aliyu (Sponsor Representative).