Sports
Cameroon Hammers Ivory Coast, Atsu Scores Ghana’s Winner
Cameroon took com
mand of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group with a 4-1 drubbing of the Ivory Coast on Wednesday.
In a Group D clash that pitted two of African football’s heavyweights against each other, Volker Finke’s men continued their resurgence following a dismal World Cup with a confident victory in Yaounde.
Doubles from forwards Vincent Aboubakar and Clinton N’Jie gave Cameroon the points in a game that was somewhat marred as Ivorian defender Serge Aurier lost consciousness after sustaining a head injury early in the second half.
Cameroon sits top of Group D with six points, while Democratic Republic of Congo leapfrogged Ivory Coast into second with a 2-0 victory against Sierra Leone.
Christian Atsu hit home five minutes from time as Ghana won 3-2 at Togo in a thrilling Group E encounter after Emmanuel Adebayor had seemingly rescued a point for Togo with a 77th-minute header.
Uganda won the meeting of Ghana’s other group rivals, overcoming Guinea 2-0, while Senegal and Congo were winners by the same scoreline versus Botswana and Sudan respectively.
Senegal and Tunisia stay level at the top of Group G on six points following the latter’s 1-0 win in Egypt, who are yet to claim a point and face an uphill battle in order to qualify for the finals.
Congo’s success means they are at the summit of Group A by virtue of South Africa’s 0-0 draw with Nigeria.
Winger Jonathan Pitroipa netted a double in Burkina Faso’s 3-0 triumph over Angola, a result that puts them two points clear at the top of Group C after Gabon were held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Lesotho, who had goalkeeper Mohau Koenane sent off in the 36th minute.
Elsewhere, Cape Verde were 2-1 winners over Zambia, Malawi overcame Ethiopia 3-2, Algeria beat Mali 1-0 and Mozambique and Niger played out a 1-1 draw.
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.