A highly respected and experienced combat sports administrator, Air Vice Marshall Framah Eli Batnah (retired) has emerged as a possible ‘compromise candidate’ to help in fostering peace among feuding factions of the Kickboxing Federation of Nigeria (KBFN).
Sports247 gathered that the retired military officer’s name, status and achievements continue coming up in the revitalised search for an amicable end to crises that led to Nigeria’s suspension by the international body.
However, following a recent warning by the president of World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO), Roy Baker that Nigeria may miss a historic first ever outing for the sport at next year’s Africa Games, several stakeholders have resolved to mend fences.
Consequently, with all eyes now of the Africa Cup, which will serve as qualifiers for next year’s continental multi-sports gathering in Egypt, stakeholders of kickboxing have set in motion plans to hold elections in Nigeria.
With that in view, the name now circulating round the country’s martial arts terrain is that of AVM Batnah, whose lofty credentials include past service in Boxing Federation of Nigeria (BFN) and several other posts.
A credible source told Sports247 in confidence, “He is a man of repute, and we already see him as our incoming president. He retired as Air Vice Marshal of Nigeria Air Force in 2025 and he was formerly NAF’s director of sports.
“He is also a former director of sports at Defence Headquarters and former board member of NBF. All these achievements make us believe that he is the right man who is capable of reviving kickboxing in Nigeria.”
Sports247 reports that it is now left to be seen if all feuding factions within the fabric of kickboxing in Nigeria will accept Batnah as the bridge that will bring them all together at the peace table and ensure that Baker’s warning is not toyed with.
 has emerged as a possible 'compromise candidate' to help in fostering peace among feuding factions of the KBFN.){kind=link}