Sports
Palace-Bound Adebayor Eyes Drogba’s EPL Record
Veteran Togolese striker
Emmanuel Adebayor is reportedly set to join another London-based English Premier League (EPL) side Crystal Palace.
Palace manager Alan Pardew has already admitted that the 31-year-old free-agent is a target for them in this January Transfer Window period.
The former Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal star is also eyeing a move to Palace this month so he can become EPL’s leading African goalscorer.
Adebayor is just nine goals short of the Ivorian legend’s record of 104 EPL goals. Drogba played 254 matches for Chelsea across two spells with the club.
However, Adebayor is currently on 96 league goals from 230 games which he scored while playing for Arsenal Manchester City and Tottenham.
Nigerian striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni, who is placed third behind Adebayor, is on 95 goals. Another Nigerian legend Nwankwo Kanu is next in line with 54 goals.
Adebayor has also been linked with another EPL sides Watford and Sunderland. But he reportedly prefers staying in London.
Talks between Tottenham and Palace are said to be ongoing for Adebayor because the former are still paying the final year of his £100,000-a-week contract.
A deal is expected to be agreed after Palace and Tottenham’s EPL clash at the Selhurst Park this Saturday.
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.