Sports
CAF Okays NFF Coaching Course
The African Football Confederation has given the Nigeria Football Federation the go-ahead to conduct the CAF Licence ‘C’ coaching seminar.
An NFF statement signed by NFF’s spokesman, Ademola Olajire, said that FIFA Technical Advisor and NFF’s Technical Consultant, Adegboye Onigbinde, disclosed this after a CAF Technical Committee meeting in Cairo, Egypt, last weekend.
The CAF Licence ‘C’ coaching seminar, which would last for 14 days, would hold at FIFA Technical Centre, Package B, National Stadium, Abuja.
The event would be followed by the Licence ‘B’ course which would take place in a few weeks time.
CAF stipulated that any Head Coach, who would sit on the bench during the 2012 African Cup of Nations finals, to be jointly staged by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon in January/February, must hold the minimum of a ‘B’ Licence.
NFF’s Technical Director, Emmanuel Ikpeme, confirmed that the Licence ‘C’ programme would be for an aggregate of 120 hours and would involve 80 coaches from across the country.
About 40 per cent of the programme is theory while the remaining 60 per cent is practical with the last three days devoted to revision and examinations.
Onigbinde, a two-time Head Coach of the Senior National Team, the Green Eagles, would be the lead instructor with Coaches Paul Hamilton, Kashimawo Laloko, James Peters and Amodu Shaibu as co-facilitators.
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.