Sports
Falcons: Fans Differ On Ikhana As Coach
Nigerians have expressed the hope that the new Super Falcons coach would lead the team to a greater height but said they would have preferred a female.
Some of the fans, who spoke as the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) unveiled Ikhana recently in Abuja, said his selection did not follow due process.
The team had been without a coach since the sack of Eucharia Uche in October 2011 after Nigeria failed to qualify for the Olympics.
A sports analyst, Tayo Balogun, queried whether due process was followed in the selection of Ikhana as the Head Coach of the Super Falcons
“Even though a good coach, I wonder whether he has the pedigree and the temperament to handle a female team,’’ he told newsmen in Lagos.
He said that the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) should be circumspect in the appointment of a coach for the Falcons.
“It is wrong to assume that because Ikhana was successful with male teams that it will translate to him being a good choice for the female team.
“The transition process is rather sudden; left to me I would have preferred him to start with the U-17 female squad and that will prepare him better for the senior team,’’ he said.
Balogun told newsmen that he would have preferred the retention of the former head coach, Eucharia Uche and send her on a refresher course to deepen her knowledge of the game.
He added that Eucharia already had a World Cup experience as a coach which Ikhana does not have.
“She should have been sent on a refresher course and not discarded for another person to take her place.
“There is no way Ikhana will have the experience the former coach garnered at the last World Cup, even though he is good at the professional league, experience can’t be overruled,’’ he said.
A former assistant coach of the Super Eagles’ Joe Erico, said he wished Ikhana well but lamented that a male coach was chosen in place of a female.
He noted that a female coach would have been more ideal since the individual would understand the female psyche better.
“Female coaching has its rudiment which a male coach might not understand. He has been doing well with the big boys of Enyimba; I do not know why he took the job.
“I am not saying Ikhana Kadiri is not experienced but the NFA should have opted for a female and motherly coach who knows these girls and understands them.
“Sincerely, I cannot say this is what we should expect from him. All I can say is that I wish him well as the new coach,’’ he said.
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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