Sports
Ivorians Bank On Result-Oriented Style
Ivory Coast’s Sol Bamba and Max Gradel, have rejected criticism over their style of play at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Elephants reached the semi-finals after beating co-hosts Equatorial Guinea 3-0 in Malabo on Saturday.
The Ivorians are yet to concede a goal in the finals, but have been forced to defend their conservative approach.
“We know if we keep a clean sheet that with the players we’ve got up front, we can score at any time,” Bamba said.
“So as long as we keep doing that, then, we can go far in this competition,” the Leicester City defender told BBC Sport.
Gradel, who plays for French side St Etienne, says that Ivorian teams in the past had lost out by trying to play attractive football.
“When we played the Nations Cup in 2010, 2006 and other years, we played great football and we didn’t win anything,” he said.
“But today the most important thing – as the coach tells us everyday – is winning and it doesn’t matter how you win.
“Everything our coach [Francois Zahoui] is telling us to do, we’re doing it.
“On the pitch and off the pitch he’s the boss.”
Zahoui has already publicly backed his side’s cautious approach, saying “a good defence can go far in the Nations Cup”.
Ivory Coast play Mali in the second semi-final on Wednesday in Libreville, Gabon, after Zambia meet Ghana in Bata, Equatorial Guinea earlier that day.
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.