Sports
NFA Targets Road Map For Football Dev
The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) has stated that national teams are now getting the desired attention because players are paid their allowances promptly.
The NFA President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, made the statement in Bauchi at a reception organised in his honour by some friends and associates, recently.
Maigari said that the association constituted the Alhaji Sani Toro headed committee to draw up a road map to improve the standard of football and its management in the country.
He said that referees and coaches in the country had also been receiving attention to improve their capacity and raise the standard of football.
“Our referees and coaches are receiving regular refresher courses and the NFA has set up a committee to provide a road map for further development of football and its management.”
He said that in spite of all the recent challenges faced by the football authority, the collective desire to move Nigeria forward in football had triumphed.
According to him, Nigeria has won three trophies recently, including the African Youth Championship and the International Beach Soccer Competition.
Alhaji Alhassan Yakut, the representative of the supervising Minister of Sports, Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ministry would continue to remain a neutral umpire in the affairs of football and sports generally.
According to him, the ministry is sincerely committed to the development of football.
Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, represented by the Commissioner of Youths and Sports, Alhaji Mohammed Lasi, said the government had intensified campaigns to encourage youths to take interest in sports.
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.