Sports
Brazil 2014: Uzoenyi’s Exclusion From Eagles List Worries Coach
Football enthusiasts in
Enugu have consoled Ejike Uzoenyi of Rangers International FC on his exclusion from the Super Eagles 23-man list for the World Cup in Brazil.
Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, released his list with Ejike Uzoenyi, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Nosa Igiebor, Sunday Mba, Daniel Akpeyi, Obinna Nsofor and Joel Obi excluded.
Rangers International FC of Enugu Technical Adviser, John Obuh, told the newsmen that it was only Eagles technical crew that could explain the final selection.
“Keshi has the final say in the Eagles selection as the coach but I would have appreciated the list more had Uzoenyi made it.
“Uzoenyi has been a good fellow and works hard even in Rangers trainings. I know he is equal to the task but the coach knows why he is excluded.
“There is nothing we can do than to pray for the team. I am a patriotic Nigerian. I will offer my prayers for the team to do us proud in Brazil,” Obuh said.
The Secretary of the Enugu State Football Association, Sunday Ugwu, said he trusted Keshi and his crew for the final selection.
“Keshi knows the formation he wants to play in Brazil and he has chosen the players who will give him what he wants.
“What we have to bear in mind is that the players need our prayers to succeed and not who is supposed to be on the plane to Brazil.
“Uzoenyi is a good player for Rangers and he would have contribute a lot to the Eagles’ success in Brazil but the team crew did not find him worthy to be in Brazil” Ugwu said.
He urged Uzoenyi to up his game and not see himself not too good to be in Brazil.
Former Rangers player, Nwabueze Nwankwo, said the players dropped were even lucky to be on the initial 30-man list.
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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