Sports
Rivers U-15 Team To Represent Nigeria In France
Team Rivers would represent the country in France as winners of the football event of the just-concluded National School Sports Festival in Port Harcourt.
Mr Ibrahim Mohammed, President, National School Sports Federation (NSSF) announced this at the end of the 10-day Games in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
He explained said the Team Rivers team was awarded the right for its victory over Team Niger in the final match.
Team Rivers had beaten Niger 1-0 in the U-15 category to win the trophy.
“This is also a way to encourage them to bring out the best in them,’’ Mohammed said during the closing ceremonies of the 5th National School Sports Festival.
“Team Rivers have done well in football, so we have to reward them to the benefit of the nation and by so doing, we can further develop the game,” he said.
Mohammed said that he was grateful to the Rivers government for making the competition ‘smooth and successful’. He commended all the states that participated in the Games, urging them to continue to encourage the children to go into sports.
Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Sports, Mr Paulinus Nwakwoala, said he was happy to see a new dawn in the nation’s sports scene.
Nwakwoala added that Rivers would continue to work with the NSSF to ensure that the country’s sports reached its optimal in development.
“I commend NSSF for making the festival successful; Rivers is ready to support and contribute its quota to sport development.
“I also urge states, schools and principals to support the Federal Government because with NSSF, Nigeria can join the best sporting nations in the world,” he said.
The Delta Chess player, Avwerosuo Emojevu, commended the organisers of the event, saying that he was happy to know other parts of the country.
“I have made new friends and I am happy to be in Rivers,” Emojevu said.
Delta, Akwa Ibom and Ondo states announced their bid to host the 2013 edition of the festival.
The Port Harcourt Games was originally scheduled to hold in 2012.
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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