Sports
Milo U-13 Championship: Adepoju Hails Camping Of Team Nigeria
Former Nigeria Interna
tional, Mutiu Adepoju, has commended Nestle Plc for camping Team Nigeria to the 3rd Milo U-13 Africa Football Championship at the Kwara Football Academy, Illorin.
Adepoju, who is the academy’s administrator, said in a statement by Media Coordiantor of the championship, that the facility at the academy had impacted positively on the players.
“Training at this facility has impacted very positively on the boys. “They will be playing at the Campos Square synthetic pitch which is very different from their school field where they are used to.
“The Kwara Football Academy pitch which is also synthetic, has provided them a feel of what to expect at the tournament venue.
“It is therefore very commendable that Milo is not only sponsoring the tournament, but has also prepared them for it,” the statement quoted Adepoju as saying.
Milo U-13 Africa Championship is an initiative of Nestle Plc to inculcate the spirit of competitiveness in African school pupils.
The aim is also to produce future football champions for the continent.
“The important thing about a squad is to blend them into a unit and have everyone playing for the other because at this stage, they come with individual skills and strengths.
“With more of such matches they will be well blended before the commencement of the championship,” the statement said.
Nigeria would be represented by St. Barnabas LGEA of Illorin in the competition that would have South Afica, Ghana and Kenya.
The championship would hold at the Campos Square, Lagos, from May 29 to June 1. The first edition of the championship was held in South Africa in 2010, while Ghana hosted the second edition in 2012.
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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