Sports
Angels Back To Winning Ways
Rivers Angels of Port
Harcourt got back to winning ways with a 1-2 victory over COD Ladies of Lagos in a week 7 encounter of the Nigeria Women Football League played at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos. It was a game that produced two red cards.
COD Ladies had the first shot on target but Adeshola Opeyemi’s goal inside the first minute was ruled offside almost immediately after kick off.
A match well dominated by the Edwin Okon tutored side saw Mabel Effiom volley in an Ngozi Ebere’s corner kick in the 10th minute to give the visitors a 0-1 lead.
In the 29th minute, Ayila Loveth came close to sending in a second from an Ebere’s cross but her shot went off target.
Then in the 39th minute, right back defender, Ugo Njoku sent in the second goal with Amarachi Ojinma assisting
Few minutes before half, the home team came close to putting one in through Okpe Blessing but Uju Joseph rushed to clear from goal line after goalkeeper Christy Ohiaeriaku missed her touch.
In the 66th minute Rivers Angels were reduced to ten players as Ayila Loveth was shown a straight red after she brought down Agams Nkechi.
Four minutes later, Dike Patience got a second yellow after she elbowed Juliet Bassey and was sent off to reduce the home team to 10 players as well.
However a goal scramble in the 86th minute made it 1-2 as Ikechukwu Vivian slotted in a set piece cross from Okpe Blessing.
Despite the 2-1 victory, head coach of Rivers Angels Edwin Okon said his team conceded a cheap goal
“Well I thank the players from Rivers Angels and I think it is a very good fight, very serious fight but at that level we just want to go back home and then see how we can correct some of the mistakes, you can as well see the goal we conceded, too cheap for a team like Rivers Angels and my take is just to go back to the drawing board and see how to correct those mistakes so that we can as well go back to where we supposed to be” said Okon.
On his part, head coach of COD Ladies, Alabi Kazeem said his side played against a national team.
“If you look at ball possession, in times of ball possession we’re better than them, keep our balls on the ground and that is what we’re teaching them and look at my players they’re very young, we’re playing against the national team, we have about ten of them from the Falcons, so if my girls can hold them like this it means their future is so so bright so am okay with the performance, I think they will do better in their next match” Kazeem said.
“We had an appeal for penalty more than three occasions which you can see so she never gave it, so me I don’t take my blame or fault to referee” he added.
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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