Sports
Fecafoot At Loss Over FIFA Ban
The Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) says it does not understand why the country has been banned from all football activity by FIFA.
Recently, FIFA suspended Cameroon “on account of government interference” in the Fecafoot elections in June.
“It is a big surprise; I don’t see any government intervention in what happened,” Fecafoot vice president Essomba Eyenga told Tidesports source.
“We will make an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).”
The results of the 19 June Fecafoot polls, which re-elected president Iya Mohammed, were cancelled by Fecafoot’s own appeals committee.
At that time Mohammed was being detained by the Cameroon authorities for alleged financial mismanagement of the state-owned cotton company, and he remains in custody.
After technical complaints from the losing candidates, the result was made void.
However, FIFA’s ruling relates to what followed once the result was cancelled, when Fecafoot vice president and former transport minister John Begheni Ndeh forcibly installed himself as president on 28 June.
Accompanied by gendarmes, some of whom were stationed at Fecafoot’s headquarters, Ndeh took over the federation and suspended the Secretary General Tombi A Roko after a meeting of the emergency committee.
That also led to the resignation of Fecafoot’s first vice president Seidou Mbombo Njoya , who had expected to step in as interim boss.
In a statement, FIFA stated, “The interference is linked to the occupation of the Fecafoot headquarters by security forces who unilaterally decided to install one of the parties involved in the contested electoral process.
“As such, the authorities are clearly interfering with the internal affairs of Fecafoot in contravention of articles 13 and 17 of the FIFA statutes, which oblige member associations to manage their affairs independently and with no influence of third parties.
“In addition, the occupation of the Fecafoot headquarters is yet another example of the long pattern of pressure applied by the authorities since the electoral process started in February 2013 and FIFA already sent in the recent months two correspondences related to interference.”
And while Eyenga insists the issue is “an internal affair”, there is an ongoing power struggle within Fecafoot, as his view is not shared by the federation’s spokesman, Junior Binyam.
“FIFA was involved in the meetings at the prime minister’s office, so for Fifa to come with this decision it must feel that some actions were authorised or accepted by the government,” Binyam told Tidesports source.
“Everything started on 26 March when the minister of sport asked the federation to stop the elections. Many actions have been taken, probably with good intentions by the government, but that is not allowed by FIFA regulations.”
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.
-
News5 days agoDon Savours Inaugural Lecture Presentation, Commends VC
-
News16 hours agoPolice Arrest Nigerian, Two Others For Kidnapping In Edo
-
Business6 hours agoNigeria, AFC sign $1.3 billion deal to build alumina refinery
-
Nation18 hours agoPerm Sec Explains Success Of FGM Elimination Programme In Rivers
-
News16 hours agoNDLEA Arrests Ex-Councillor With 40kg Skunk, Recovers Drugs In Diapers
-
Rivers5 hours agoLGSC Boss Commits To Better Service Delivery
-
News16 hours agoArmy Foils Cattle Rustling, Kills Terrorists In Benue …Rescues Two Kidnapped Bank Staff
-
Rivers5 hours agoADIAFRICA Flags-off Free Eye Screening Outreach In PH