Sports
Hayatou Set To Return Unopposed …CAF Election
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has rejected the final appeal by Ivorian Jacques Anouma to be able to contest this weekend’s Confederation of African Football (Caf) elections in Morocco.
The decision means incumbent president Issa Hayatou, in power since 1987, will run unopposed in Marrakech on Sunday.
“I am awaiting the details from my lawyer but the news is not good,” Anouma told Tidesports source yesterday.
Anouma was barred from voting after Caf changed its statutes last year.
In September 2012, the amendment only allowed voting members of Caf’s Executive Committee to contest the presidential elections.
Anouma sits on Caf’s executive committee but only because he serves as one of the continent’s representatives on the Fifa executive.
Although the 61-year-old attends Caf meetings, he does not have any voting rights.
“The Cas panel … decided to dismiss the appeal of Jacques Anouma; broadly following the reasoning of the Caf Executive Committee, whose jurisdiction to decide the contested decision was recognized by the Cas,” read a statement from the Switzerland-based legal body.
“Thus, it was confirmed that the Caf Statutes adopted in September 2012 were applicable in assessing the validity of the candidates in the presidential election and that Anouma did not meet these criteria because he had never been a member [of] the Caf Executive Committee.”
Anouma’s forced exclusion means that Hayatou is set to extend his reign as Caf president to 30 years.
Having taken charged in 1987, the Cameroonian will finish his reign in four years’ time – having said that this will be his final term in office.
This is the fourth case that Cas has rejected challenging the change to the Caf statutes after two previous challenges lodged by the Liberia Football Association.
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.