Sports
CAF To Expand AWCN, Youth Tournaments
Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Ahmad Ahmad has reiterated his commitment to seeing the development of football in the continent.
The Malagasy football administrator says the decision by the Executive Committee to expand the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the Under-17 and Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations is a step in this direction.
Beginning next year, all these three competitions will be expanded to include 12 teams up from the current eight.
“The number of countries which want to participate in these competitions and for us, we have to make room for everyone, and make room for the growing interest,” Ahmad said.
“We have observed the competitions in the zone and the level is growing. It is only imperative for us to increase the competition up because we see what is happening in the zones.
“For women’s football as we have seen during the World Cup, two out of three reached the second round and this is encouraging. This shows that women football is growing and for us to support that growth, we need to create more opportunities.”
Ahmad also announced that the Executive Committee has adopted a proposal to have the CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup played in one final in a neutral venue, walking away from the tradition of home and away games.
“We have already started a process to get bids for the hosts and we will announce the results soon. We think that this will be a good step to take football to more people,” Ahmad announced.
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.