Sports
El-KanemiWants Aliyu
Abdulrazak Aliyu has been in big time football for years now, and has played for top sides like Enyimba, Kano Pillars and Rangers, but has now pulled on the white and yellow shirt of El-Kanemi Warriors where he wants to help them beat the drop this season.
The midfielder knows that their current 13th position on the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) puts them in an uncomfortable standing considering they are just one point above the drop zone.
And up next for Aliyu and his El-Kanemi teammates is a trip to FC Ifeanyiubah who have found themselves in the bottom-three and are in dire need of a result to ease their worries.
Aliyu is wary of the important trip to the southeast to face FC Ifeanyiubah which he believes will shape up their campaign to survival relegation this term.
“Our position on the table is not where we want to be but we have found ourselves there and we just need to prove that we have the fight. I am ready to give my best to make sure that El-Kanemi do not go on relegation. We have a good team and a very good coach so we are confident of surviving.
“Our concentration now is our first match against FC Ifeanyiubah once the league resumes. It is an important match for us especially now that we find ourselves just close to the relegation zone. They (FC Ifeanyiubah) are also battling relegation so I expect it to be a tough match,” said Aliyu to npfl.ng.
The defensive midfielder also played down any target for personal glory and would rather focus on contributing to lift the Borno club further up the NPFL standings.
“Personal target for me is to just to help my team win matches. The more matches we win is better for me as that will help us climb the table. As a player, of course, if I get the chance to score goals I will do so but the first and most important concern for me will be to help my club win and escape relegation,” he said.
Aliyu has made 18 appearances so far for El-Kanemi Warriors this season.
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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