Sports
Race To 2013 AFCON Begins …As Nigeria Tackles Rwanda
The race to qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations begins today with 13 matches taking place across the continent.
Half of Africa’s contenders are taking part, as the teams which did not make it to the 2012 tournament play-off to go into the hat with those that did.
That means giants like Cameroon and Nigeria will be in action, along with minnows such as Seychelles.
These are first leg matches, with the second legs being played in June.
Nigeria are in Rwanda, where the Super Eagles will attempt to begin the rebuilding process after the humiliation of failing to reach the 2012 Nations Cup.
That cost coach Samson Siasia his job and new boss Stephen Keshi has drafted some old faces – like Yakubu Ayegbeni and some new names, like Victor Moses, available as well.
Rwanda’s coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredrojevic acknowledges that it will be a hugely difficult task for his side taking on Nigeria.
“We are playing against giants of African football, wounded lions. They have an iron defence, a very creative midfield and very dangerous attackers,” the coach said.
But he said all the pressure would be on Keshi’s team to perform.
Cameroon were another former power of African football who were not involved in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
They go to Guinea-Bissau for the opening match of their attempt to reach the 2013 Nations Cup.
Samuel Eto’o is serving a long ban, and there are a host of other players who are also absent in the wake of the strike action taken by the national team last year.
Zimbabwe have had well publicised problems with their squad, following the match-fixing scandal which has gripped football in the country so a much reduced squad has headed to Burundi under a new coach.
Uganda came very close to making it to the 2012 finals but dropped out of contention at the last moment – so they will be determined to take the chance to make it to 2013 and begin their campaign with a trip to Congo Brazzaville.
Kenya, Uganda’s great rivals, have hopes of reasserting themselves on the continental stage after a long-drawn out dispute over who runs football in the country, but their build-up to the home game against Togo today has been disrupted by a row over unpaid expenses.
The argument has led to the withdrawal from the squad of the Harambee Stars’ top-midfielder McDonald Mariga.
In other matches, Ethiopia host Benin; Malawi travel to Chad, where they conceded a last minute equaliser which cost them a place at the 2012 tournament.
Tanzania host Mozambique; Cape Verde are in Madagascar; Namibia travel to Liberia; Sierra Leone go to Sao Tome and Seychelles host DR Congo.
Former champions Egypt, who must also go through qualifying after failing to make it to the 2012 Nations Cup have had their opening match against Central African Republic delayed until June following the tragedy in Port Said earlier this year.
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.
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