Sports
Uganda Dreams AFCON 2015
The 36 years of wait
ing since their last appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations is the motivating factor behind why Uganda Cranes are working so hard to make it to the 2015 finals in Morocco, coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has said.
Sredojevic, who led the Cranes to qualification for the 2014 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa, is hoping that he can drive his team to realise this dream. Uganda qualified for the group stage of the 2015 AFCON qualifiers after seeing off Madagascar and Mauritania.
The CECAFA giants will face Ghana on September 6 in Kumasi in the first Group E encounter, before returning to host Guinea at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
Togo, who will be led by Tottenham Hotspur striker Emmanuel Adebayor, will have two back-to-back games against Uganda in October.
He said although the group opponents are established teams with great quality and huge number of top class professionals, garnished with enormous financial injection from their governments, his team is hungry to make a statement.
“Whatever numbers of top professionals they have, we shall approach it with motivation and the big dream to qualify after 36 years of absence,” Sredojevic told Tidesports source.
He also said the Cranes’ dream to qualify for AFCON is much bigger than the usual obsession of the group opponents to be there.
Sredojevic has said he is doing everything possible to have a build-up game before traveling to face Ghana on September 5th at the Baba Yara Sport Stadium.
He disclosed that together with the Ugandan FA, they are trying to make sure the team can play an international friendly match before the Ghana game.
“The players need to get some playing time in their legs ahead of the visit to Kumasi,” added the coach.
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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