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…Alongside Samoura, Coventry, and Akamanzi
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By Bolaji Okunola
Nigerian sports media executive, entrepreneur, and digital strategist Janine Anthony has been recognised by the Africa Sports Ventures Group (ASVG) as one of the 50 Most Influential African Women in Sports for 2025.
Announced on 8 November in Nairobi, Kenya, the prestigious list celebrates visionary women whose leadership and innovation are reshaping Africa’s sports landscape.
Anthony features alongside global and continental icons such as former FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, IOC President Kirsty Coventry, and NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi.
She was honoured in the Business and Marketing category for her outstanding impact at the intersection of technology, commerce, and media — influence that extends far beyond her acclaimed on-screen career.
As Sports and Gaming Partnerships Lead for Sub-Saharan Africa at TikTok, Anthony spearheaded the strategy that established Sports and Gaming as official, standalone content verticals. Her leadership helped grow the regional sports creator economy, introduced monetisation models, and expanded African sports content to a global digital audience.
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Her earlier work in the global iGaming industry with PawaTech (owners of betPawa and Mchezo) led to the creation of the Locker Room Bonus (LRB) — an innovation that uses mobile money and fintech systems to guarantee instant, equal cash rewards for both male and female players after a win. The initiative has since been deployed in Nigeria’s Nationwide League (NNL) as a model for social impact in grassroots football.
Anthony’s career trajectory includes historic broadcast milestones — from becoming the first African woman to lead football commentary at AFCON 2019 with the BBC, to high-profile stints with Sky Sports, the Premier League, and as a Matchday Reporter for DAZN at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in the United States, working alongside Nigerian legend John Obi Mikel.
She is also the Founder of LadiesMarch, a pan-African digital platform dedicated to women’s football, which marked its 10th anniversary in June 2025.
“These extraordinary women represent the heartbeat of African sports. Their courage, vision, and excellence inspire not just the next generation of women in sport, but an entire continent striving for transformation,” said Leslie Koroma Sr., Founder & CEO of the Africa Sports Ventures Group.
The 2026 edition of the awards is scheduled to hold in Dakar, Senegal, alongside the Youth Olympic Games.
Anthony is one of six Nigerians named on the 2025 list, including Nkechi Obi, CEO of Sport Nigeria Ltd; Yetunde Olopade, CEO and MD of Nilayo Sports Management Ltd; Amb. Mary Onyali, Olympian and sports marketing advocate; Aisha Shuaibu, President of SWA Sports and Advisory Board Member at NAFA; and Tega Onojaife, Founder of Ladies in Sports International and sports broadcaster.
