By Abdulgafar Oladimeji

The past weeks have been the most volatile for the global economy with sports economy not been an exception, since the industry is not incubated from the global economic value chain .

On April 2nd , 20025 US president Donald Trump , at the White House in an well televised event had announced a new tariff regime in what the US president described as Economic Independence on a day, he also tagged as the “Liberation Day.”

After the declaration, the situation within the anal of the global economic system in the layman comprehension has been epileptically in an galloping state.

The global sports market worth is presently at an estimate value of over 2 trillion US dollars across public, private and consumer investments .

The sports sector jealously parades the potentialities for further growth making it one of the largest and fasted growing economic sector in the world.

It is therefore imperative to take a critical look as the world sneezes over the new US tariff , sure the sports industry is also catching cold.

It is pertinent to note that, the writer is aware that President Donald Trump has announced a 90 days freeze on the new tariff policy, on some countries , it is still imperative to proceed with a critical analysis of the expected outcome of the new Trump led US policies on the global sports economy.

President Donald Trump would still be in office, when the United States would as a joint host nation play host to one of the largest sports fiesta and the most prestigious sports business event, which is the , FIFA world cup 2026.

The new US tariff no doubt would affect sports directly or indirectly courtesy of sports investments and sponsorship deals.

US investors have in the past two decades invaded the football business industry in various parts of the world with investments valued in billions of dollars, if the new tariff is implemented those investment that were secured through loans would put those investments at risk.

I mean here , that since the new US policy will strengthen the dollar, the worth of the loans in foreign countries would double in debt to become a huge fiscal burden on those sports investments .

These sports business with huge US investments will suffer severe implications and would not be able to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules. PSR.

Major sponsors of the next edition of the FIFA world cup have invested heavily with the motive to sell their products in the US markets, take for example Hyundai, which is one of the major FIFA World cup partners , the new US tariff seek to impose 25 percent tariff on car produced in South Korea, Hyundai FIFA world cup sponsorship deal is on a cliff .

Major brand wear owners like, Adidas, Nike and Puma, are known to have their production bases in Asia ,where the tariff is predicted to result in skyrocket effects on prices and market prices that may cause diminished purchasing powers amongst sports consumers.

if the US should proceed with the new tariff a large chunk of the traditional customers, who patronize these sports wear makers will be subjected to heavy prices in turn may affect sales, since they may have to resort abstinence of adopt austerity measures. .

It is expected that the Liberation Day announcement by the US government would have its impact on the prices of building materials , thus leading to jerk up in prices in the cost of the construction of sports facilities not just in the US ,but across major global cities that have been given the rights to host major global sports events, not exempting the construction of sports faculties for use at the grass root levels, the heightened cost would then be transferred to sports clubs, associations , investors, sponsors and sports consumers.

The 2026 FIFA world cup would be jointly hosted by US, Canada and Mexico, the bad blood recently created by the new US tariff policy may affect the smooth hosting of the fiesta.

No doubt there is an ongoing global trade war between US and Canada and Mexico, this may invoke an hitch that may cripple the working relationship between these host nations, likely disarray looms and may constitute a glitch in the workings towards the successful staging of the most cherished sports economic event, the FIFA World Cup

The trade war may possibly ignite anti fans sentiments, recently during an NHL and NBA fixture, Canadian fans were alleged to have booed, during the US anthem, these may become a new worrisome trend in the sports world and it spells doom , if the world of sports begin to witness this snail speed emerging trends t, it would trigger hate and destroy the true spirit of sportsmanship.

Major world sports platform are the dominant sales anchor of household products, consumer goods, whose labor force are domicile in the eastern block countries, where the tariff is expected to bite massively.

Thanks the media is exempted from the tariff, if the opposite where to be the case, that would have been a death sentence on the sports market, knowing fully well that the media is the soul of the global sports economy.

Abdulgafar Oladimeji

A Kano based sports journalist , is the news editor, Sahelsportsnews.com.

The Nigeria Football Federation says it is ‘deeply saddened’ by the death on Saturday of another member of the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning Green Eagles squad, Charles Bassey. He was 71.

Bassey died after protracted illness in his native town of Eket, Akwa Ibom State, hours after it was confirmed that the captain of that team, ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwuemeka Chukwu, had passed on in Enugu.

This has been a day of double tragedy, and the NFF and the entire Nigeria football fraternity are deeply saddened by the turn of events. We lost ‘Chairman’ Chukwu earlier in the day; now, we have to mourn Charles Bassey. May God Almighty grant their souls eternal rest,” NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said.

Forward Charles Bassey was in the 22-man squad that became Nigeria’s first Africa Cup of Nations champions, after a 3-0 defeat of Algeria’s Fennecs at the National Stadium, Surulere on Saturday, 22nd March 1980.

Afterwards, he coached various clubs within the country, including Calabar Rovers, home-town club Mobil Pegasus, BCC Lions of Gboko, Flash Flamingoes of Benin, Akwa United and Wikki Tourists of Bauchi.

Sahel Sports

Kano, Nigeria / Salzburg, Austria – A groundbreaking partnership agreement has been signed between Nexus Soccer Academy, a premier football development institution in Kano State, Nigeria, and SK Bischofshofen, one of Austria’s most respected football clubs. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the advancement of grassroots and professional football development in Nigeria.

The strategic alliance was brokered by Oluwabunmi Moses Egbebi, CEO of OE Sports Management Limited, as part of the company’s Sustainable Legacy Program, which is dedicated to fostering long-term football growth in Nigeria. In recognition of his pivotal role, Mr. Egbebi has been appointed as the Project Director to oversee the successful implementation of this partnership.

The official signing was conducted by the Presidents of both clubs—Mr. Jamil Abdussalam for Nexus Soccer Academy and Mr. Patrick Reiter for SK Bischofshofen. Mr. Reiter, a renowned Olympic judo champion for Austria, has successfully transitioned into sports leadership, bringing his expertise to SK Bischofshofen, a club that has built a strong reputation in Austrian football.

A Vision for Football Excellence

This partnership is designed to:
• Develop young football talents in Nigeria through structured training programs, international exposure, and mentorship.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange between Nigerian and Austrian coaches, enhancing technical expertise and tactical development.
• Create pathways for Nigerian players to showcase their talent on European platforms, bridging the gap between African and European football markets.
• Promote grassroots football development in line with international best practices, ensuring that young players receive professional-level training from an early stage.

A New Era for Nigerian Football

Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Jamil Abdussalam expressed his excitement:
“This is a historic moment for Nexus Soccer Academy and Nigerian football. Partnering with a prestigious European club like SK Bischofshofen provides a new dimension to our development programs. We are committed to producing world-class players, and this collaboration will play a key role in achieving that vision.”

Patrick Reiter, President of SK Bischofshofen, also emphasized the significance of this alliance:
“Football is a global language, and through this partnership, we aim to contribute to the growth of young African talents. Nigeria has always been a powerhouse in football, and we believe this project will strengthen the connection between our two footballing cultures.”

A Commitment to Long-Term Growth

Under the leadership of Oluwabunmi Moses Egbebi, the Sustainable Legacy Program will ensure that this partnership delivers lasting impact, not just in player development but also in the overall football ecosystem in Nigeria. This initiative aligns with global best practices in sports development and further cements Nigeria’s position as a key player in the international football community.

This is just the beginning of an exciting journey, and both clubs are committed to making this collaboration a resounding success. Stay tuned as we embark on this transformative adventure in Nigerian and Austrian football!

#NexusAcademy #SKBischofshofen #FootballDevelopment #SustainableLegacy #OESports #NigeriaMeetsAustria #NextGenFootball