Sports
Club W/Cup: African Sides Learn Route To Final
Fifa has made the draw for December’s Club World Cup in
Japan.
The winners of the African Champions League, TP Mazembe,
Esperance, Sunshine Stars or Al Ahly, now know their route to glory.
They will face the victors of a play-off between the winners
of Japan’s football championship and New Zealand’s Auckland City on 9 December.
And the winners of that match will face South American
champions Corinthians for a place in the the final.
In the other half of the draw, Mexican side Monterrey and
the winners of the Asian Champions League will meet with a semi-final berth at
stake.
The victors will face English Premier League side and
European Champions League winners Chelsea to decide who makes it to the final,
which will be played on 16 December.
Africa’s Champions League is at the semi-final stage, with
Congolese side TP Mazembe up against Esperance of Tunisia and Nigeria’s
Sunshine Stars going head-to-head with Al Ahly of Egypt.
The two-legged ties will be played in October, with the
first matches held between 5-7 October and the return games scheduled for 19-21
October.
TP Mazembe are former finalists of the Club World Cup,
reaching the showpiece match in 2010 when they were beaten by 3-0 Inter Milan
(pictured). They remain the only African side to have made it that far in the
tournament.
However, Al Ahly have also enjoyed a degree of success,
finishing third in 2006.
Esperance, should they make it, will want to perform better
than they did last year when they lost their quarter-final and the fifth-placed
play-off to end up in last spot.
Next year’s tournament will be held in Africa for the first
time, with Morocco the hosts.
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.