sports

MFM Pocket N7.5m After Thrilling Zenith League Win

Published

3 weeks ago

October 5, 2026

MFM Zenith League win earned the champions N7.5m after a thrilling 66-64 overtime victory over First Bank in Lagos

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Basketball Club, MFM, won N7.5m after defeating First Bank 66-64 in overtime to claim the 2026 NBBF/Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League title at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on Saturday.

Also read: Iheanacho Makes Emotional Super Eagles Return

The MFM Zenith League win completed a remarkable return to the top for the Lagos side, which secured its third championship in four years after missing out on the title last season. The victory also came against record champions First Bank, who were chasing a 10th league crown.

MFM appeared in control for much of the final, taking the opening three quarters 11-6, 13-12 and 19-17 to establish a 43-35 advantage going into the final period.

First Bank, however, produced a powerful late response. The Elephant Girls outscored MFM 21-13 in the fourth quarter to level the game at 56-56 and force the championship decider into overtime.

MFM then held their nerve in the additional five minutes, winning the overtime period 10-8 to seal a dramatic two-point victory.

The result also capped an unbeaten league campaign for the champions, who defeated First Bank three times during the season.

The result brought a significant financial reward for the top three teams. MFM collected N7.5m as champions, First Bank received N5m as runners-up, while Nigeria Customs earned N3m after defeating ASO SKY Queens 51-38 in the third-place match.

A total of N19.5m was distributed in team and individual prizes at the conclusion of the competition, with N15.5m going to the top three teams and a further N4m shared through individual awards.

MFM forward Ioumabo Pius emerged as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and received N2m in total.

Pius earned N500,000 for making the Tournament Top Five and another N500,000 from Zenith Bank for winning the MVP award. Dam Foundations and Xejet each contributed an additional N500,000 to take her total prize money to N2m.

The other members of the Tournament Top Five were Favour Anari of ASO SKY Queens, Nwaado Hemban of MFM, Nkem Akaraiwe of Nigeria Customs and Marilyn Ofidibe of First Bank.

The individual honours reflected the strength of the tournament, with MFM also producing the competition’s best three-point shooter and two members of the Tournament Top Five.

Speaking at the final, Zenith Bank Executive Director Adamu Lawani, who represented the bank’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dame Adaora Umeoji, said the participating teams had already made an impact beyond the court.

“All of you already inspire every young girl watching from the stands tonight,” Lawani said.

He reaffirmed Zenith Bank’s long-term backing for the competition, saying, “Zenith Bank remains committed to the game. We’ll be here next season and the seasons after.”

Lawani also congratulated MFM on their championship success and praised First Bank for pushing the champions throughout the final.

The 2026 title is particularly significant for MFM after the club lost to First Bank in last year’s semi-final before Dolphins went on to defeat First Bank in the final.

MFM had previously won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, making the latest triumph their third championship in four years.

The championship also strengthens the club’s position as one of the leading forces in Nigerian women’s basketball, while First Bank remain the competition’s record champions despite falling short in their latest attempt to reach 10 titles.

MFM and First Bank will now carry Nigeria’s hopes into the FIBA Africa Zone 3 qualifiers for the 2026 Africa Women’s Basketball League, with the continental competition scheduled to take place in Alexandria, Egypt, from December 11 to 20.

For Zenith Bank, the latest final marked another milestone in its long-running involvement with the women’s game.

Also read: Iheanacho Makes Emotional Super Eagles Return

The bank has supported the league for 20 years and again pledged to continue investing in its development, particularly as a platform for young Nigerian women to compete and develop their sporting careers.

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Brands

Mbappe Apologises Over Mao Zedong Comment as Chinese Brands End Deals

Published

14 hours ago

October 27, 2026

Peculiar Adirika

Mbappe Mao Zedong comment sparks backlash in China, prompting an apology from the Real Madrid star and the termination of two brand partnerships

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has apologised over an “ill-judged” comment about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong after Chinese drinks manufacturer Dongpeng Beverage and dairy producer Mengniu terminated their partnerships with the French football star.

Also read: Police Confirm Three Killed, Inspector Injured in Kebbi Violence

Mbappe, who captains France’s national team, issued the apology on his X account on Tuesday, acknowledging that his remarks had upset people in China and Chinese communities worldwide.

“My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world. I apologise to everyone my words have upset,” he said.

The controversy followed the circulation of a video in which the 27-year-old footballer reacted to an internet meme featuring his face superimposed on that of a Chinese leader.

He reportedly described it as the funniest meme he had seen and referred to the figure as “some guy — I think he’s a Chinese dictator”, in an apparent reference to Mao.

Dongpeng Beverage announced on Tuesday that it was ending its partnership with Mbappe, citing its opposition to comments considered offensive to Chinese national sentiment.

“Our company firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy towards any behaviour that offends national sentiments,” the company said.

“With immediate effect, we are terminating all cooperation with Kylian Mbappe,” it added.

Mengniu, one of China’s largest dairy producers, also announced that it was ending its partnership with the Real Madrid forward.

“With immediate effect, our company is terminating all cooperation with Kylian Mbappe,” the company said, adding that it maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.

The announcements generated widespread discussion on Chinese social media platform Weibo, where Dongpeng’s decision to end its partnership with the footballer became a trending topic.

Mao, who led the Chinese Communist Party and died in 1976, remains a highly sensitive historical and political figure in China.

Comments perceived as disrespectful towards him can provoke strong public reactions.

Mbappe had previously addressed memes comparing him to historical dictators in an interview with French sports newspaper L’Equipe in September.

“There’s a part of it that’s funny. You can tell that, for some people, it’s all in good fun. But there is another part that’s a bit less funny because of the damage such people have caused throughout history,” he said.

He added that being compared with individuals responsible for mass killings and widespread suffering was uncomfortable.

“Being compared to individuals who murder others, or who have brought misery to millions upon millions of people — well, I don’t think I’ve ever done anything like that in my life,” Mbappe said.

International sports figures have previously faced commercial and public backlash in China over politically sensitive comments concerning Taiwan, Tibet and Hong Kong.

In 2019, a social media post by then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey expressing support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong prompted Chinese authorities and businesses to suspend NBA-related activities.

NBA games were subsequently absent from Chinese state television broadcasts for about a year.

In 2023, former NBA player Dwight Howard also faced criticism on Chinese social media after referring to Taiwan as a country in a video featuring Taiwan’s then vice president, Lai Ching-te.

Also read: Police Confirm Three Killed, Inspector Injured in Kebbi Violence

Mbappe’s apology comes amid the fallout from the latest controversy and the decisions by Dongpeng Beverage and Mengniu to end their commercial relationships with the footballer.