Sports
Niger Flickers, Bayelsa Queens Win IEI Hockey League
The Niger Flickers of Minna at the weekend in Abuja
dethroned defending champions, the Yobe Desert Rollers of Damaturu, to win the
2012 IEI National Premier Hockey League’s male championship.
A sudden death goal in the sixth minute of the extra time from
Yohanna Faruk, gave the Minna side a 3-2 win after regulation time play had
ended 2-2.
In the match at the Astro-turf hockey pitch of the Abuja
National Stadium, the Flickers demonstrated their superiority by scoring when
it mattered.
With goalkeeper, Agada Shaibu, making good saves and the duo
of Bala Murtala and Zailani Iliya, providing good cover many times, the Desert
Rollers held off the Minna side several times in the game.
Earlier in the day at the same venue, the Union Bank of
Lagos had won the third-place match by beating the Kano State Flickers 1-0.
At the end of the competition, Collins Ifeanyi of Union
Bank, was adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP), while Auwalu Lamido of Niger
Flickers, won the highest goal scorer award with six goals.
In the female competition, the Bayelsa Queens of Yenagoa
retained their title with a 1-0 win over the Yobe Desert Queens of Damaturu, in
a repeat of the 2011 competition’s final match.
The Plateau Queens won the third-place game in the
competition with a 1-0 defeat against the I-G Babes of Kaduna.
Ajuma Ejegwa of Yobe Desert Queens won the female
competition’s MVP, while Mary Ogan with five goals, won the highest goal scorer
award.
The four teams in the two finals have now qualified to
represent Nigeria at continental club championships later this year.
Niger Flickers and Yobe Desert Rollers will play in the
African Male Club Championship in Accra, Ghana.
Bayelsa Queens and Yobe Desert Queens will play in the
championship’s female version in Zimbabwe.
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.