Sports
NFF/CBN All-Financial Institutions Competition Begins, ‘Morrow
The 31st edition of the NFF/CBN All-Financial Institutions Football Competition gets underway tomorrow with group stage matches at four centres.
The annual competition, which is billed to end on October 28 at the Lafia Township Stadium will have the participating teams grouped in the four centres of Akure, Bauchi, Calabar and Owerri.
Qualifiers from these preliminary round matches will advance to the four quarter-final matches slated for the four venues, while the two semi-final matches will come up at Lokoja.
First-place winners in the competition will receive N2 million, while the runners-up will take home N1.5 million.
The third-place winners will earn N1 million, while the fourth-placed team will be rewarded with a prize money of N500,000.
At a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja to herald the competition, the sponsors, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), pledged their continued commitment to the competition’s sponsorship.
“We are committed to making positive contributions towards the promotion and development of the football sport by sponsoring this competition annually, because of the successes recorded so far.
“This is because it has become a major event which features annually on the calendar of events of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
“As a result of this, many teams from Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), Micro Finance Banks (MFBs), financial regulatory agencies and other financial institutions have been indicating their interest in participating,’’ Martins Ogwuda, who represented CBN’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Isaac Okoroafor, said.
He added that CBN had noted in recent editions an increase in the number of MFBs participating in the competition.
“This is an indication that the impact of this competition is being felt at the grassroots level where budding talents are often discovered and nurtured to a level of national and international recognition.
“In fact, Balogun Fulani MFB from Ilorin which won the championship for the first time last year is an example.
“The team has created a record as the first Micro Finance Bank to win the competition since its inception 30 years ago,” Ogwuda said.
NFF Deputy General Secretary, Emmanuel Ikpeme, who stood in for the General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, praised CBN for its commitment and for keeping faith with the competition for the past 30 years.
He then promised that the Federation would always provide the best hands to ensure a flawless organisation of the competition.
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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