Sports
Ineligible Players Disrupt Lagos League
The use of ineligible players disrupted a match in the ongoing Lagos
State League as the clubs involved accused each other of being cheats.
Bolous FC of Ikeja eventually defeated LSDPC Ilupeju 3-2 in the game on Tuesday and leads the table with nine points from five matches.
The match was played at the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium, Lagos.
The match was interrupted for about 10 minutes following accusations and counter-accusations over the fielding of ineligible players.
They both protested to the match officials who assured them that the complaints would be taken care of later by the disciplinary committee of the state football association.
LSDPC coach Balogun Ganiyu told newsmen that they found out that a player in the Bolous team was registered in another club participating in the Lagos State FA Federation Cup.
“My bench found out that one Ganiyu, a defender, was not eligible to play in the competition because he is a member of another club.
“And we decided to protest right there because it is not legal for any team to do that,” he said.
Aniete Udoh, coach of Bolous, also protested the ineligibility of the LSDPC goalkeeper in the game.
Udoh said that the goalkeeper was still a member of his team and had not been fully cleared from the club and as such was ineligible.
“The goalkeeper’s licence is still with my team and that makes him not qualified to play in the league,” he said.
Udoh expressed happiness that his team won in the end.
“I am so excited that we are able to win the game and get our three points because this is a crucial game for us,” he said.
Dotun Coker, a member of the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA), explained that the body
would wait for both teams to formally file their protests before anything would be done.
“There is nothing we can do now until both make their protests official in writing,” he said.
The competition ended yesterday.
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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