Sports
Siasia Likens Spain’s Defeat To Rise, Fall Of Empire
The exit of defending cham
pions, Spain with two defeats in a row at the ongoing World Cup before the conclusion of the group stages could be likened to the rise and fall of empires of old.
This is the view expressed by Nigeria’s former Super Eagles Coach, Samson Siasia, who is in Brazil in solidarity with his colleague, Stephen Keshi now in the saddle.
With the exit, Spain has become the first high profile team to crash out of the ongoing 20th FIFA World Cup holding in Brazil ahead of their last group game. Reacting to the exit, Siasia told newsmen in Sao Paulo that he hailed the Spanish team for previous good efforts.
He added that it only showed their game was up. They achieved so much while up there.
“This is the time to quit in order to reorganise by giving way to a more youthful side just like it happened to great countries like France and Germany. “Nothing lasts forever. They have stayed a long time as champions. The team had been together for upward of 12 years and achieved so much at the top level.
“It is time to look toward the younger generation of Spanish footballers,’’ he said.
The coach added that this could lift the morale of the national team to step up as to see what could be salvaged.
“This is football at its best,’’ he told a NAN correspondent covering the World Cup after Chile beat Spain 2-0 on Wednesday night.
The match was played at the 64-year-old Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro the edifice to host the final of the Mundial on July 13.
Their second defeat to Chile ensured the Spaniard’s early exit from the world’s most glamorous sporting spectacle.
The defending champions had lost their opening match 1-5 to the rampaging Dutch team.
This is the second time in recent history of the competition that such a high profile team would exit in this manner.
France which hosted and won in 1998 had at the next World Cup jointly hosted by Korea and Japan lost at the group stages, including a loss to an African team, the Terranga Lions of Senegal.
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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