Sports
ACL: Uganda’s Vipers Aim To Oust Enyimba
Vipers SC defender Yusuf Mukisa has vowed that his team will shock Enyimba out from this year’s CAF Champions League when both teams clash at the Adokiye Ameseimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
The Uganda champions won the first leg at home 1-0 and the defender said they are targeting at least a draw in the return leg to progress to the first round of this year’s Champions League.
Erisa Sekisambu‘s second-half goal separated the two sides after the first game in Kampala.
This is Vipers’ maiden appearance in the continental competition and all they need is any draw or a win to qualify to the first round where they will face the winners between Lioli FC (Lesotho) and Vital’O FC (Burundi).
The defender, who is one of the most experienced players in the team, has confidence that Vipers can go down into the books of history by ejecting the two-time African champions.
“We have prepared ourselves well and know that we don’t have the pedigree, but our confidence will inspire us to win,” Mukisa told his club’s website.
Mukisa’s joy was expressed more with the return to training of Vipers trio Siraj Sentamu, Shafik Bakaki and Ismail Watenga who all missed the first leg through injuries.
“Perhaps the return of experienced players such as Watenga will be an incentive for us, we need to be solid as well,” he added.
Vipers started a double training session yesterday and the players will enter camp before their trip to Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Enyimba Coach Paul Digbogun who saw his ward fell to Rivers United FC in the season’s league opener on Sunday said that they were confident of scaling the Vipers hurdle.
According to the coach, Enyimba, who dominated the first leg in Uganda, just as against Rivers United without taking their chances would go back to the drawing board. He said they would work on the art of goal scoring and if corrected, would certainly subdue the Ugandan on Sunday.
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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