Sports
Nigeria’s Former Basketball Captain, Udoka, For Induction
DePaul University of Athletics, Chicago, U.S. published on their website yesterday, the induction of Mfon Udoka, former captain of the female national team, D’Tigress and other professionals, into their hall of fame.
Udoka, a product of DePaul University, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame class of 2017 in Chicago on February 25.
Udoka, born June 16, 1976 is a Nigerian American former professional basketball player and the new Assistant Coach of the Nigerian women’s national basketball team, the Lady Tigers.
Born in Portland, Oregon, she graduated from Benson Polytechnic High School (1994) in Portland, before attending DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois from 1994 to1998. She is the sister of NBA player, Ime Udok.
After leaving DePaul in 1998, Udoka signed with the Detroit Shock of the WNBA. With Detroit, she appeared in three games. Udoka left the U.S. following the 1998 season, moving to Portugal for the 1998/99 season.
She returned to school to complete her degree in Communications in 2000, and also rehabilitated her ankle injury she suffered in the summer of 1999.
In 2001, she slowly resumed her basketball career with the Birmingham Power of the National Women’s Basketball League.
Following the end of the 2001 NWBL season, Udoka again left the U.S., moving to Israel, where she played briefly with Electra Ramat HaSharon, before moving to compete with Harbin in China for the 2002 season.
For the 2003 season, Udoka went back to Harbin before playing with the Chicago Blaze, again of the NWBL in 2003, where she was invited to the Houston Comets training camp and made the roster as a free agent.
Udoka led the Nigeria women’s national basketball team to the 2004 Summer Olympics. At the Olympics, she was second in the tournament in scoring and rebounding but Nigeria finished 11th out of 12 teams.
The Nigerian team became the first African team to ever win a game at the Olympics. Udoka also led Nigeria at the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women, where Nigeria finished last (16th) place.
In 2003, Udoka’s role will always be remembered as she helped the First Bank Basketball Club of Lagos to defeat Primeiro de Augusto of Mozambique, 55-54 to win the club’s and the nation’s first ever FIBA Africa Club champions cup.
In May 2011, Udoka was named as the new Assistant Coach for the Nigeria Lady Tigresses, ahead of the African Nations Cup in Mali and the All Africa Games.
Nigeria came third in the competition, claiming the bronze medal and picked the pre-qualification ticket for the 2016 Olympics.
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.