Sports
Eaglets Set For U-17 WAFU Competition
Volleyball players in action during a national tournament in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, recently.
The national Under-17
male team, Golden Eaglets, will participate in a six-nation sub-regional West African Football (WAFU) Under-17 Tournament in Togo, an official said.
The team’s Media Officer, Morakinyo Abodunrin who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja said the Nigerian team has been pooled in Group B with Niger and Mali.
The competition will hold from April 19 to April 27.
According to the statement, Golden Eaglets’ head coach Emmanuel Amuneke is expected to name a provisional list of 30 players for the competition soon.
The statement quoted Amuneke as saying the team’s technical crew was clear about its objectives of players meeting a particular standard.
It said the coach’s comment was in reaction to the impression that players were not given adequate playing time to showcase their talents.
The team had on March 27 started a two-week open screening to select players ahead of the African U-17 Championship qualifiers.
“We are clear about our objectives and there is a certain standard we are expecting from players even at this level.
“We are doing our best to ensure that everybody is given the opportunity to show what they can do,’’ Amuneke said in the statement.
He added that the on-going screening exercise would be rounded off soon so as to give room for concentration.
“The screening exercise will be rounded off this weekend in order for the coaching crew to concentrate efforts on the players to be picked eventually for the WAFU competition.
“And we are going to give opportunity to other players, even after the competition in Togo. Nothing is conclusive yet as we build towards the African qualifiers,” added Amuneke.
Hosts Togo are in Group A alongside Benin and Cote d’ Ivoire for the 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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