Sports
80 Athletes To Begin Camping In PH
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) says it will invite no fewer than 80 athletes to camp for the African Athletic Youth Championships (AYAC).
AFN technical director, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, disclosed this to Tidesports as the Dr D. K. Olukoya U-18 Athletics Championships is scheduled to end on Saturday in Lagos.
Nesiama said that the AYAC would be hosted by Nigeria in Warri, Delta, from March 27 to April 3.
He added that the camp would open on March 12 at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers.
“We will be calling 80 athletes comprising 40 males and 40 females.
“The invited athletes will resume camping by March 12 at the High Performance Centre at the University of Port Harcourt,” he said.
He said the talents would be invited from the Olukoya championships and two other previously held tournaments.
The others, he said, were the just-ended Premier Lotto Athletics Secondary School Championships and the recently-held All Nigeria Secondary School Championships in Lagos.
“We have our scouts at the Premier Lotto championships and we are also going to invite athletes from the All Nigeria competition,” he said.
“The discovered talents at the three competitions are still raw, but by the time they go into camping, they will refined further.”
The director said the invited athletes were expected to be groomed ahead of the African competition.
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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