Sports
Foreign Coach Not Answer To Nigeria’s Football Woes
Vincent Clement
The engagement of a foreign coach has been said not to be the solutionto the litany of woes befalling Nigeria’s national football teams at the moment.
Speaking to Tidesports against the backdrop of Nigerian teams’ recent poor performances and the call for a foreign coach to take over the national teams, especially the Super Eagles, a football fan, Ifeanyi Nwobi, said that the football governing body, Nigeria Football Federation, has to mend its way of doing things to ensure that the game breathes in new life.
According to Nwobi, “Local coaches have the capacity to succeed with our national teams if the right person is chosen, given free hand and the needed support to go for success.”
He argued that the 1994 World/Nations Cup set of Super Eagles were able to do well not just because of Clemens Westerhoff, a foreign coach, but because the coach was given a free hand and built his team without fear or favour.
The fan observed that Coach Shuaibu Amodu, who has led the Super Eagles to the brink of missing out of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, may not be the best candidate for the job, but, “we have too many hands in the pot, he may not have had the freest of hands in choosing his squad for the matches.”
He believes that one of the Nigerian coaches who can take over from Amodu and do well is Samson Siasia.
However, Nwobi calls on Nigerians to continue to support the Super Eagles as they play Mozambique and Kenya in the hope that providence can still see them qualify for the World Cup after endangering their chances in their last match with Tunisia in Abuja.
He also wants the NFF to ensure that it does everything within its powers to give the team and coaching crew adequate support, and planning before the matches.
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.