Sports
NWBF Targets 2014 World Cup
The Technical Director,
Nigeria Wheelchair Basketball Federation (NWBF), Obereniene Adoki, has expressed confidence that Nigeria could clinch Africa’s lone slot at the Wheelchair Basketball qualifier in Angola.
Adoki told newsmen in Lagos that the qualifier would hold from October 22 to November 3 in Luanda, Angola, for the 2014 World Cup in South Korea.
The director said that his players had been in camp in Lagos since the past two weeks and had just moved to Ibadan for another three-week camping.
“For the past two weeks, we have been in open camp in Lagos but we just moved to Ibadan for the second stage of our camping.
We did this to expose our players to a different kind of weather, reduce distractions and make them more focused, so that we can achieve the desired results at the qualifier,” he said.
According to him, the last one week of the camping would be used to select the players for the qualifier, adding that the team would take off to Luanda from Ibadan.
“In Ibadan, we will spend the next three weeks to get our boys acclimatised to different weather, while the last one week will be for the selection of players,” he said.
Adoki added that although the federation had concluded all arrangements for the qualifier in its first phase of the camping, the second phase is to strengthen the team for the qualifier.
He added that meanwhile, some invited professional players had arrived at the camp, while more were still being expected.
“Among those professionals that had arrived are the captain, Tope Ogunyemi from Australia, Mohammed from Poland and Richard from the US,” he said.
The director then advised other physically-challenged people to join their colleague in the federation, saying that the sky was the limit for them to excel in the game.
He also enjoined corporate bodies and public-spirited individuals to support the team to win the slot, saying that it was not too late for them to lend their support.
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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