Sports
Regional Qualifiers For 2018 CHAN Gets Underway
Regional qualifiers for next year’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) – which will be staged in Kenya, kicked off at the weekend with first leg wins for South Sudan, Mauritius and Madagascar.
In the Central Eastern Zone, South Sudan were 2-1 winners over Somalia in a match played in Djibouti as Somalia cannot host matches due to security fears.
The other qualifiers were in the Southern Zone with Malawi losing in Madagascar and Mauritius beating Seychelles.
The CHAN is a tournament for locally-based players featuring in their own country’s domestic leagues.
Madagascar were 1-0 winners over Malawi thanks to a late Ardino Raveloarisona goal in the 88th minute.
It was a first competitive game in charge for Malawi’s new Belgian coach Ronny Van Geneugden.
On Tuesday he led The Flames to a goalless draw in Kenya in a warm-up game for the CHAN.
Also in the Southern Zone, Mauritius beat Seychelles 2-1 at the Anjalay Stadium in Belle Vue.
The home team opened the scoring after just six minutes thanks to a goal from Jiovany Vincent.
Mauritius then doubled their lead in the second half with a 50th minute goal from Francis Rasolofonirina.
Seychelles reduced that lead with a 77th goal from Manno Yannick.
The return leg fixtures take place next weekend with the winners advancing to the next round in their respective zones.
15 teams will eventually join hosts Kenya in the finals of the CHAN tournament in 2018.
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.