Sports
Ginola To Challenge Blatter, Wants Combined W/Cup
Fifa presidential hopeful David Ginola wants the men’s and women’s football World Cups to be staged together.
The tournaments are currently hosted by different countries in different years.
However the 47-year-old Frenchman wants “one global spectacular” that he believes will take the World Cup and women’s football “to new heights”.
The former Tottenham winger is being paid £250,000 by a bookmaker to run for the top job held by Sepp Blatter at world football’s governing body.
To be eligible for any election, Ginola would need the support of five football associations and must show active involvement in football for two of the past five years.
Ginola feels “a lack of equality in football” is something that needs to be addressed.
He added: “Despite talented players, dedicated fans and far-reaching interest around the sport, women’s football continues to be limited by both attitudinal and financial discrimination. In this day and age, it’s just not good enough.
“One of the key ways we’ll make a difference is by adopting the Olympic model that sees all athletes compete under one banner, in one country, during one timeframe.”
The Team Ginola campaign is attempting to raise £2.3m to fund the challenge through contributions from the sponsor and supporters.
Nominations for the FIFA presidency close on 29 January.
Fifa vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein and former diplomat Jerome Champagne, who joined FIFA in 1999, are the other candidates to announce they will stand.
Blatter, 78, has been FIFA president since 1998 and is seeking a fifth term in office.
An encounter between Dolphins FC and Enyimba International in the Glo Premier League at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt, last season.
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.
-
Business3 days agoNERC Amends Order on Meter Tampering, Power Bypass For Discos
-
Business3 days agoNCDMB Signs Mgt Deal With Radisson, Edison…As Board’s 204 Rooms Hotel Open December 2026
-
Rivers3 days agoKENPOLY Rector Promises To Prioritise Students’ Welfare
-
Business3 days agoNigeria, AFC sign $1.3 billion deal to build alumina refinery
-
News4 days agoPolice Arrest Nigerian, Two Others For Kidnapping In Edo
-
Rivers3 days agoDon, Stakeholders Urge Environmental Laws In N’Delta
-
Rivers3 days agoADIAFRICA Flags-off Free Eye Screening Outreach In PH
-
Environment3 days agoIWD: NGO promotes clean energy access for women in Kaduna