Sports
Eaglets Begin Screening Of Players
The national under-17
male football team would in Abuja resume their open screening camp in preparation for the 2015 African U-17 Championship, billed for Niger Republic.
The team’s Media Officer, Morakinyo Abodunrin, who said this in a statement recently in Abuja, said the screening would hold at the FIFA Goal Project pitch of the National Stadium.
He said the team’s old players, as well as new ones desirous of being in the team, should report at the training’s venue.
The statement quoted the team’s Head Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, as saying it was imperative to look at fresh talents in order to strengthen the team ahead of greater challenges.
The team had started an open screening camp on March 27 in preparation for the continental championship qualifier.
But the team has had to break the open screening to participate in the just-concluded U-17 West African Football Union (WAFU) tournament in Togo where they won the bronze medal.
“The tournament in Togo gave us the ample opportunity to gauge the players’ response to competition as well as their general attitude and conduct.
“But, efforts will be geared towards getting a pool of 50 talented players who will be registered for the qualifiers, as well as the 2015 CAN Under-17 Championship in Niger.
“We will use the next two weeks to look at new players because we need to reinforce the team as it were.
“This is because our objective is to have a pool of good players who we can draw from, from time to time, because this is a long journey,’’ the statement quoted Amuneke as saying.
The Flying Eagles have drawn bye into the second round of the qualifiers and will meet the winners of the first round clash between Burundi and Congo DR.
The first leg match is billed to hold between July 18 and July 20, while the second leg match is between August 1 and 3.
The Golden Eaglets were runners-up at the 2013 edition of the championship in Morocco, after losing to Cote d’Ivoire 4-5 on penalty kicks.
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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