Sports
S’Eagles Get Quarter Final Target At W’Cup
Former international Seyi Olofinjana believes that Nigeria should target the quarter-finals at the 2018 World Cup.
Last Saturday, the Super Eagles became the first African team to qualify for Russia after beating Zambia 1-0.
Nigeria has reached the second round at three of their five World Cups.
“We’ve been to a few World Cups in recent years, and we need to be looking at progressing further – rather than crashing out in the early stages,” Olofinjana told newsmen in Uyo.
“I think the country should be looking at perhaps the quarter-finals,” added the former midfielder, who won over 40 caps for Nigeria before bowing out at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.
Only three African teams have ever reached the last eight at a World Cup.
Cameroon were the first to achieve it in 1990, followed by Senegal in 2002 while Ghana were a missed penalty away from becoming the first African team to make the semi-finals in 2010.
Reaching the last four is the stated aim of Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick who had said that all his organisation’s efforts “are geared towards getting Nigeria to play the semi-finals in Russia.”
Olofinjana believes that Coach Gernot Rohr, who has been in the role since August 2016, can marry youth with experience in a side that made light work of a qualifying pool widely labelled the ‘Group of Death’.
Nigeria qualified with a game to spare from Group B, finishing above reigning African champions Cameroon, an Algerian squad which impressed at the 2014 World Cup and 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winners, Zambia.
The Super Eagles have reached the second round at three World Cups – 1994, 1998 and on their last appearance in Brazil three years ago.
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.