Owerri, Feb. 4, 2026 (NAN) The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), has heartily congratulated the government and people of Imo, on the golden jubilee of the state’s creation while celebrating its sporting excellence.
This is contained in a statement to newsmen on Wednesday, by the state’s Secretary of SWAN, Mr Tunde Liadi, in Owerri.
He noted that the past five decades of the state’s existence had been characterised by enduring contributions to national development through sporting glory.
He recalled that shortly after the creation of the state in 1976, Spartans Football Club was established, mirroring the success model of Enugu Rangers.
He said that the club announced Imo State’s arrival on the national and international stages, with a memorable 2–0 victory over Ararat Yerevan of the then USSR in August 1976 at the Township Stadium, Owerri.
According to him, the acquisition of Spartans FC by the late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, and its transformation into Iwuanyanwu Nationale ushered in a golden era.
“The club’s heroic comeback against FAR Rabat of Morocco in the 1988 CAF Champions Cup semifinal, overturning a 4–1 first-leg deficit to qualify for the final, remains one of the most iconic moments in African club football history,” he said
According to SWAN, the state’s sporting pride reached its zenith in 1996, when Imo born Chioma Ajunwa, etched her name in global history by winning Nigeria’s first ever individual Olympic gold medal in the women’s long jump at the Atlanta Games.
He described the victory as a feat that remains a beacon of inspiration for generations of Imo athletes.
“As our dear state clocks 50, the entire SWAN in Imo, led by our Chairman , Cosmos Chukwuemeka, a CAF accredited sports writer, join the rest of well meaning people to state that sports remain a powerful tool for unity, youth and economic growth in the next phase of the state’s journey,” he said
SWAN congratulated Imo people, and called for renewed commitment by stakeholders to preserve the state’s sporting heritage, and invest in grassroots development.
He expressed optimism that the next 50 years will deliver prosperity, peace, and pride for the state. (NAN)
