Sports
Elegbeleye Sure Super Falcons’ll Knock Out Mali
The Director-General, Na
tional Sports Commission (NSC), Mr. Gbenga Elegbeleye says the Super Falcons will surely beat Mali in the qualifying matches for the 2015 All-Africa Games (AAG).
Elegbeleye told newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja that the senior national female football team would beat their Malian counterparts home and away.
He said he was sure the Super Falcons would overcome their opponents considering the calibre of players and quality of the technical crew.
“They are the current African champions and I don’t see Mali as a problem.
“I am sure they will beat Mali home and away, looking at the calibre of players and the members of the technical crew,” Elegbeleye said.
The Super Falcons will face their Malian counterparts in the first leg match of the AAG qualifiers tomorrow in Mali.
They will thereafter host the Malians in the return leg match two weeks later.
Also speaking, the team’s Media Officer, Gracious Akujobi, said the players were aware that nothing short of victory was expected from them.
“The players know that there is no excuse, we just have to qualify.
“And, qualifying means going to Mali to win and coming back home to put the icing on the cake,” Akujobi said.
The Super Falcons will left Nigeria yesterday for the match in Mali.
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.