Sports
WAFU Cup Of Nations Kicks Off Weekend …To Showcase Tomorrow’s Stars
The 2019 WAFU Cup of Nations gets underway in Senegal this weekend, with 16 teams looking to be crowned the kings of the West African region.
This year marks the fifth full edition of the WAFU regional tournament, which was first founded in 2002 (though that year’s tournament was abandoned due to the civil war in the Ivory Coast).
Tournaments in 2010 and 2011 were held in Nigeria and won by the host team and Togo respectively, while Ghana have both hosted and won the last two tournaments in 2013 and 2017.
As the tournament falls outside of FIFA’s international windows, it does not feature senior national team regulars. Instead, federations use the WAFU Cup of Nations as a testing ground for their most promising up-and-coming locally-based youngsters, making it a window into the future of some of the continent’s top teams.
This year, the competition moves to Senegal, with the Stade Lat-Dior in Thies set to host all of the matches, while a guest team, Morocco, is also present. The North Africans replaced Sierra Leone, who were banned from internationals by FIFA and has only recently returned from their sanction.
The tournament opens with a last 16 round from 28 September to 1 October in which the field will be divided in two: the winners advance into the full Cup competition, while the losers drop into the Plate competition. It is a straight knockout format from there on.
Hosts Senegal will open the finals on Saturday when they face Guinea-Bissau, while the other match scheduled for that day sees defending champions Ghana take on Gambia.
Sunday features a clash of former champions as Nigeria takes on Togo, before guest side Morocco tackles Liberia.
Monday 30 September sees Mali and Ivory coast take on Niger and Cape Verde respectively, before the first round of matches wraps up on Tuesday 1 October with Burkina Faso versus Mauritania and Guinea versus Benin.
The Cup final will be played on Sunday 13 October.
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.