Sports
AFN Targets Better Performance At C’wealth Games
The Athletics Federation of Ni
geria (AFN) has said that the 2014 All Nigeria/Cross River Athletics Championship is a launch pad for better performance in this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The President of AFN, Mr Solomon Ogba, made the assertion on Wednesday in Calabar at a media briefing on preparations for the championships due to begin on Thursday in Calabar.
“In this championships, we expect to raise a team that will defend our position as champions during the African Athletics championships.
“We will also raise a team that will make the country proud at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later in the year.
“I am sure that through this championships, we are going to surpass our previous performances at the Commonwealth Games. We will surely get to the podium,’’ Ogba said.
He said that AFN’s partnership with Cross River Government was yielding positive results and commended Gov. Liyel Imoke for his interest in sports development in Nigeria.
He also commended Imoke’s comprehensive sports development programme in Cross River and urged successive administrations in the state to sustain the lofty programme.
Ogba said the country had waited for 14 years before winning any medal at international championships before the intervention of Cross River Government.
He disclosed that over 40 foreign-based athletes were already on ground to take part in the championships, adding that it promised to be highly competitive.
“And, I am sure that at the end of the championships, new records will be broken and medals will be won,” he said.
The AFN president said that if athletics was accorded the same financial priorities as football, the country would win many medals at world meets.
Speaking, the Cross River Commissioner for Sports, Mr Patrick Ugbe, said the state government had fulfilled its earlier promise to change the tartan tracks of the U.J. Esuene stadium to meet world standard.
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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