Sports
‘Nigeria Needs Foreign Football Administrators’
Former Nigeria national team coach, Adegboye Onigbinde has said that the country’s football needs better administrators instead of an incessant change of coaches.
Onigbinde, the first local coach to lead the Super Eagles to the World Cup in 2002, claimed that the administrators of the country’s football were the men behind the recent decline in its fortunes, at a forum organised by the Football Coaches Association of African Nations (FCAAN) in Lagos on Monday.
“What we need most in Nigeria are foreign football administrators, not foreign football coaches,” Onigbinde said.
“If we have knowledgeable and serious administrators, it’s their job to develop coaches. But the concentration is on competition, competition, and competition.
The people in the federation] have to update their knowledge. Where we concentrate mostly on competitions and neglect the most important aspect of coaching, we’ll continue to fail.”
Onigbinde also used the opportunity to debunk insinuations that he was at loggerheads with former Nigeria coach, Samson Siasia who also attended the event.
“I became angry when someone said that no Nigerian coach could handle the Nigerian team after the draw with Guinea that ensured the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. I sprang up,” said Onigbinde who turned 74 on Monday.
Nigeria’s football has seen a decline in fortunes in recent times with its teams failing to qualify for any major competition in 2012. Terry Eguaoje, founder of FCAAN thinks that his organisation can help plug that gap.
Many of the country’s coaches are produced through the Nigeria Institute of Sports, a facility that has come under pressure due to failing infrastructure and poor funding.
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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