Sports
Coach Bemoans NNL Poor Officiating
The Head Coach of Nige
ria Prisons Football Club, Zibiri Brown, has said Nigerian referees have made the Nigeria National League (NNL) to look like a primary school league.
Brown said this in an interview with newsmen while reacting to his Abuja-based club’s 1-3 loss to Kwara United FC in Ilorin last Saturday.
He also spoke against the background of his team’s inconclusive last home game to Ranchers Bees FC of Kaduna on July 19 in Abuja.
The coach advised Nigerian referees to step up their game so as to make the second tier of the country’s football league better than it is presently.
“We want the NNL to critically look at referees sent for matches, because some of them always make the league look like a primary school league”
“The NNL is next to the Premier League but they (the referees) have made it look so childish.
“I want to advise the referees to step up their officiating, so that we can have a better league,” he said.
Brown said poor officiating had as a consequence affected Nigerian clubs’ performance on the continent, adding “they are not always the best, because the referees secured the ticket for them.
“If you have money, you will get the ticket to go for continental competitions. It is not the better said that always wins,” he said.
In a reaction, the President of Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), Ahmed Maude, however said the referees were improving gradually, and backed his contention by pointing at the Premier League.
“Nigerians should not use a match to judge referees, rather, they should look at the entire system. There are lots of quality referees in the country,’’ he said.
The NRA president promised that officiating in the NNL would henceforth be given a serious monitoring.
Meanwhile, the Prisons FC coach has praised for his players for their performance against Kwara United FC, and expressed the hope that his club would survive relegation.
He said his team lost to a better team which was having a good day, and showered praises on Kwara United.
A brace in the first half by John Chukwudi and a penalty kick by Lateef Adigun gave Kwara United the win.
The visiting side got their lone goal through an own goal by the hosts’ goalkeeper, Ismaila Shagari.
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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