Sports
Flamingoes’ Victory Motivates Falconets
Falconets Chief Coach Edwin Okon has said that the girls were motivated by the U-17 female national team, Flamingoes’ 2-1 victory over their Zambian counterparts last weekend in Lusaka.
The game was the first leg, second round of the U-17 Women World Cup in Azerbaijan later in the year.
The team defeated their Kenyan counterparts at home and away in the first round.
Okon said this in a statement by the U-20 women national team’s Media Officer, Ejiro Femi-Babafemi in Abuja.
Okon said the victory would encourage his team to make Nigeria proud in their second round, first leg of the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe.
The match is slated for March 31 at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.
“Although the Flamingoes game was the first leg and the second leg billed for Nigeria on March 24, also in Abeokuta but that notwithstanding, it has gingered my players to ensure we win our own game.
“And we are also very much aware that the Zimbabwean team this year is different from the one that we faced two years ago.”
The Flamingoes returned to Abuja on Monday evening to prepare for the return leg.
The winner of the fixture will advance to the third and final round with three other African teams.
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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