Sports
Amokachi Set To Take Over Super Eagles
Nigeria coach Shuaibu Amodu will have to win his next game against Benin convincingly or see himself shunted aside for his assistant Daniel Amokachi to take charge for the rest of the Nations Cup, while Mozambique coach Mart Nooij is favoured for the World Cup.
Tuesday’s defeat to Egypt has seen the pressure on Amodu rise to unbearable levels and the Nigeria contingent held no less than three meetings on Wednesday as they sought to find a way forward, with confidence in Amodu’s abilities falling to a dismal low.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), executive committee have previously backed Amodu publicly, but our source understands that a heated meeting on Wednesday saw the majority of board members asking for Amodu to be asked to ‘step aside’ with immediate effect and hand over to Amokachi for the rest of the competition.
However, NFF chairman, Sani Lulu Abdullahi would have none of it and insisted that Amodu be given at least one more game, against Benin, to save his job.
For the World Cup, the bulk of the NFF Executive Committee are in favour of Nooij, who is currently in charge of Mozambique.
Nooij’s major edge over other contenders, including Claude Leroy who is in Angola, is his deep knowledge of the Nigerian team and players after scouting them during the qualifiers, and again for the Nations Cup.
“There is no time between now and the World Cup for someone to try to study the team and we need somebody who already knows the players and understands the team,” a top official of the NFF said.
An additional advantage for Nooij is that he is Dutch, and favours the 4-4-2 formation which most Nigerians prefer with an emphasis on wingers. The NFF top brass have also been impressed by the job the Dutchman has done with the Mambas.
Another NFF official however said that although there has been no contact with Nooij recently, there has been ‘informal’ contact in the past and is confident a deal can be thrashed out after the Nations Cup.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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