Sports
Cameroon’s Coach Expects Matip Return
Cameroon coach Hugo Broos reveals he would like to have Joel Matip back in the national team set up after the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Gabon.
The Indomitable Lions are through to the quarter-finals of the biennial continental showpiece after playing to a 0-0 draw in their final Group B match against hosts, Gabon on Sunday.
Matip reportedly announced his retirement from the national side, yet Broos called him for AFCON with the defender rejecting the call-up to focus on Liverpool instead.
“I hope he’ll change his mind and we’ll see him in the next game (after the Nations Cup) because he’s a fantastic player,” Broos told Tidesports source
“I’m very happy that this problem is solved and he can play again for Liverpool and I hope, really I hope, that he’s thinking again why shouldn’t I play with Cameroon.
“I think everyone is free to make a decision and he made the decision not to come with us here for the Nations Cup.
“I respect his decision but I also think the Cameroon Federation had to do what it has done because they are the FIFA rules and it’s too easy to say no, I don’t come.
“But this problem is solved now, for me there is no problem anymore and I still hope, as I have done since I was coach of Cameroon, that he will come back and play with us again.”
Meanwhile, FIFA rules state, a player may be blocked from featuring for his club if he refuses to play for his country, but on Friday Matip was cleared to play.
The Reds defender last played for the national team in 2015 and was not included in their final 23-man squad for the tournament.
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.