Sports
2010 W/Cup: Saadane Carries Africa Coaching Mantle
Although the 2010 World Cup is the first to be staged on African soil, only one of the 32 teams will be led by a coach from the continent.
Of the six African teams taking part, hosts south Africa African will be coached by a Brazilian while Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Ghana will be under European leadership.
The exception is Algeria who are taking part in their first World Cup since 1986 and are led by local coach, Rabah Saadane.
“It’s a great satisfaction, though it’s not something I had really counted on,” Saadane told Tidesports source before a training session in the Swiss village, where his team are holding a two week camp.
“I think I’m representing all the African coaches and the Arab world as well, so it’s a big responsibility.”
African nations often employ local coaches to take them through the World Cup qualifiers, and then switch to a big-name European coach for the tournament itself.
“This is a matter for the directors and I don’t want to give any advice to the directors,” said Saadane, whose team face England, United States and Slovenia in Group C at the finals starting on June 11.
“But I can tell you that in Africa there are plenty of coaches and trainers of great quality.”
African coaches had not taken part in the World Cup at all until Abdelmajid Chetali led his native Tunisia to Argentina in 1978.
Before that, Yugoslavia’s Blagoje Vidinic coached Morocco at the 1970 finals and Zaire four years later, while Egypt were coached by a Scotsman in 1934, the only previous occasion an African team had qualified.
There was bumper year in 2002 when Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia were all led by local coaches but it was back to the usual routine four years ago in Germany when Angola’s Luis Oliveria goncalves was the only African to occupy the hot eat.
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.