Sports
S’ Africa Appoints Ntseki After Baxter’s Exit
Molefi Ntseki has been appointed as interim coach of South Africa as day after Stuart Baxter resigned from the post.
Baxter stepped down on Friday saying it is the right time to move on with a new cycle of Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers ahead.
On Saturday the South Africa Football Association (Safa) named under-17 coach Ntseki “in the interest of continuity”.
Safa said it wants to have a permanent replacement by the end of the month but admitted this might not be possible
The 50-year-old Ntseki has been involved with Bafana Bafana’s for several years and was part of Baxter’s technical team at the recent Nations Cup in Egypt.
“Given the upcoming fixtures in September, Ntseki is best placed to follow through with the foundation that has been laid by coach Baxter,” a Safa statement said.
He has been involved with all the national teams over the past few years, from the under-20 men as well as Banyana Banyana and under-17 women.
Baxter’s second spell in charge of Bafana Bafana comes to an end just weeks after South Africa reached the quarter-finals of the recent Nations Cup.
The campaign in Egypt included a win over the hosts in the last 16.
“I feel it’s time for someone else to take over and I have decided to resign from my position. It is my personal decision,” he explained.
“Going to Afcon, this squad had not lost in a year, something that was not easy considering we were introducing new players.
“I’ve chosen not to point fingers and I will refrain from that. Choosing not to answer some misleading media coverage is something that’s also hard to do.”
Bafana Bafana scraped into the last 16 despite losing two of their three group matches.
South Africa upset Egypt 1-0 only to lose after a goalkeeping blunder in the last minute to Nigeria in the quarter-final.
Baxter won 14 of 30 matches in his second stint, drawing six and losing 10.
Baxter is now the ninth coach to leave his job following the Africa Cup of Nations finals last month.
He follows Clarence Seedorf (Cameroon), Javier Aguirre (Egypt), Paul Put (Guinea), Herve Renard (Morocco), Ricardo Mannetti (Namibia), Emanuel Amunike (Tanzania), Sebastien Desabre (Uganda) and Sunday Chidzambwa of Zimbabwe in either quitting, coming to the end of their contracts or being fired.
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.