Sports
U-17 AYC: Eaglets, Tunisia Battle For Final’s Ticket
After bouncing back from their shock 0-1 loss to Cote d’Ivoire in their second group match to maul Congo 7-0 and advance to the semi final stage, Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets will engage their Tunisian counterparts in a battle for the final today.
The Eaglets, who might have instilled fear into opponents with their rampaging attacking game and goal haul at the on-going African Under 17 Championship in Morocco will have another opportunity to make a statement for themselves.
But all eyes, especially, Nigerians, are on the youngsters to really fulfill their potentials by going all the way to the title.
Tunisia, who will enjoy a kind of home comfort in Morocco will certainly want to frustrate the Nigerians and catch them off guard. They demonstrated their quality in the group stage by not losing a match, and would want to continue the run. However, with the form of the Eaglets, especially leading goal scorer, Isaac Success and prolific Iheanacho, who have scored a combined total of 10 goals in their three matches, the Tunisia defence and keeper will be in for a busy day this evening.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Coach of the Golden Eaglets, Nduka Ugbade, said yesterday that the team would play the semi-final encounter against their Tunisian foes with all the seriousness it deserved.
Ugbade told newsmen in Lagos that the Eaglets would guard against complacency and not make the kind of mistakes it made against Cote d’Ivoire.
“We went back to the drawing board to ascertain what went wrong in our match against Cote d’Ivoire.
“We were complacent against Cote d’Ivoire and that was why the game ended the way it did, against Tunisia we will play with all seriousness,’’ he said.
On the morale of the players, the assistant coach said that the players were in high spirits.
“After the shocking loss to Cote d’ Ivoire, Manu Garba spoke to the players and urged them to be focused.
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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