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Research Article
Effect of 12-week Skill Training Programme on Selected Physical Fitness Indices Among Secondary School Female Football Players in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Joy Nneoma Akameze*
,
Andrew Aor Tyoakaa,
Donatus Udockukwu Chukwudo,
Francis Chibunine Ugwueze
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 3, September 2025
Pages:
57-63
Received:
6 June 2025
Accepted:
23 June 2025
Published:
16 July 2025
Abstract: Female participation in football has grown steadily in Nigeria, yet many young female players lack access to structured training that targets key physical fitness components. Aerobic fitness, agility, and leg power are critical for football performance, but there is limited research on how structured skill training programmes affect these variables in adolescent female athletes. This study investigated the effects of a 12-week skill training programme on aerobic fitness, agility, and leg power among secondary school female football players in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. A quasi-experimental design was employed. The study population included 222 female football players from twelve secondary schools registered for the 2024 all-secondary school games. A purposive sample of 40 players from two intact schools was selected. Aerobic fitness was assessed using the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) test; agility was measured using the Illinois Agility Test; and leg power was evaluated with a jump test. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) at a 0.05 significance level. The 12-week skill training programme significantly improved aerobic fitness and agility (p < 0.05). However, the programme did not produce a statistically significant improvement in leg power (p > 0.05). The findings suggest that a structured skill training programme can effectively enhance aerobic fitness and agility in female secondary school football players, though additional interventions may be required to improve leg power. It is recommended that football coaches adopt this type of programme with a focus on overall physical and skill development.
Abstract: Female participation in football has grown steadily in Nigeria, yet many young female players lack access to structured training that targets key physical fitness components. Aerobic fitness, agility, and leg power are critical for football performance, but there is limited research on how structured skill training programmes affect these variables...
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Review Article
Technological Innovations in Sports Science for Sustainable Sports Development in Nigeria
Joy Nneoma Akameze*,
Andrew Aor Tyoakaa,
God’sman Chidiebube Akameze
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 3, September 2025
Pages:
64-72
Received:
6 June 2025
Accepted:
23 June 2025
Published:
21 July 2025
Abstract: Advances in science and Technology had led the world through many ages/eras. More importantly, the use of Technological innovations in the 21st century is a welcome development. Technology has taken all aspects in life and sport is not an exception. Lighter and stronger racquets, new material compounds and everlasting rubber soles, the possibility of having telemetry data available are just few of the developments that have set a remarkably highly competitive level among amateurs and professionals. Observation indicates that Nigeria sports industry is yet to utilize some of these advantages offered by technology to make sports performance and officiating easy and effective for her athletes. This paper stems from the quest to discover technological innovations needed to bring notably sustainable developments to global sports with focus on Nigeria. Therefore, Infrastructure development, the use of various technological devices for participation and officiating in some sports, future innovation in Sports Technology and Merits of Technological innovations were discussed in this paper. This paper therefore used Narrative Methodological Review approach, on the current trend in Technological innovations in sports science. Though, these are really effective but some are lacking in Nigeria. While global sports industries harness cutting-edge technologies to elevate performance, fan experience, and data analytics, Nigeria grapples with structural, socioeconomic, and policy-based obstacles. The paper also pointed out sporting activities that require the deployment of technological innovation to achieve sustainable development in the country. Reference was also made to other countries within and outside Africa on how the use of technological innovation has brought sustainable development in Sports. It was therefore concluded that should Nigeria employ most of these technological advancements in sports such as wearable technology, data analytics, and environmental sustainability measures, Nigeria can ensure the long-term viability and success of sports activities while minimizing their environmental impact and promoting sustainability in Sports.
Abstract: Advances in science and Technology had led the world through many ages/eras. More importantly, the use of Technological innovations in the 21st century is a welcome development. Technology has taken all aspects in life and sport is not an exception. Lighter and stronger racquets, new material compounds and everlasting rubber soles, the possibility ...
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Research Article
An Exploration of «Hemlè»: The Identity of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon Football Team
Siméon Boris Nguéhan**
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 3, September 2025
Pages:
73-84
Received:
28 July 2025
Accepted:
11 August 2025
Published:
9 September 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajss.20251303.13
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Views:
Abstract: This study investigates the cultural concept of Hemlè – meaning "fighting spirit" or "bravery" in the Bassa language – and its significance in shaping the identity of Cameroon’s national football team, the Indomitable Lions. Through an interdisciplinary lens, the research explores how Hemlè embodies the team’s resilience while serving as a unifying cultural symbol in Cameroon’s multicultural society. The study examines its manifestations across three key dimensions: as a psychological motivator for players, a narrative framework in media representations, and a marker of collective identity among fans. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research draws on semi-structured interviews with current and former players, football experts, and supporters, alongside content analysis of media reports and documentaries spanning four decades. Findings reveal Hemlè as a dynamic concept that has evolved from its Bassa origins into a pan-Cameroonian ethos, adapting to changes in football tactics and national consciousness while retaining its core meaning. The study demonstrates how sporting narratives like Hemlè function as "imagined communities," fostering national unity in postcolonial states. The implications extend beyond sports scholarship, offering insights into how indigenous concepts can shape national identity in multicultural contexts. The research contributes to ongoing debates about cultural preservation in globalised sport and the psychological impacts of athletic nationalism. By centring African epistemologies in football analysis, the study challenges Eurocentric frameworks of sporting identity while providing practical applications for athlete development and national branding.
Abstract: This study investigates the cultural concept of Hemlè – meaning "fighting spirit" or "bravery" in the Bassa language – and its significance in shaping the identity of Cameroon’s national football team, the Indomitable Lions. Through an interdisciplinary lens, the research explores how Hemlè embodies the team’s resilience while serving as a unifying...
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