Sports
CAF U-23 Championship: Dream Team Under Pressure – Eguavoen
Dream Team V Head Coach, Austin Eguavoen has said Wednesday in Abuja that the pressure the team was undergoing was a normal thing in football and would be handled professionally.
The Tidesports reports that the national U-23 male football team is preparing for the CAF U-23 Championship scheduled for Morocco.
The championship, which holds from November 26 to Dec. 10, is the qualifiers for the 2012 London Olympic Games scheduled for July 27 to August 12.
Eguavoen told newsmen that while the team was currently facing pressure, he was ready to handle it because he was not new to working under such condition.
“We are under pressure but I have handled such situations before. So, I am not new to it.
“I can’t run away from it, because it is my job; I will face it with a lion heart because that is why I am in charge,’’ he said.
The coach said the pressure was borne out of the fact that the competition was the only chance for Nigeria to participate in international football within the next one year.
He said he was aware of the fact that he would be held responsible for any negative development that might result from it.
“As it is now, it is the only competition left for Nigeria. And I am the number one person being looked up to.
“If things go well, l will be commended and if it is the other way round, I will be held responsible. Nobody wants to know what went wrong and where,’’ Eguavoen said.
Tidesports reports that the coach was in Abuja meet with the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on the next phase of his team’s programme.
He had just returned from a tour of four European countries where he held meetings with officials of clubs he was expecting to have some of his players released for the Morocco championship.
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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