Sports
Plateau United Wants To Be Crowned NPFL Champions
Plateau United gaffer, Abdu Maikaba, has admitted that there’s nothing wrong in handing the NPFL title to his team if the league was not concluded due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Peace Boys have been the most outstanding team in the Nigeria Professional Football League this season, having opened a four-point gap over the chasing pack.
The Jos-based club has not only been solid at home but has also been brilliant on the road having picked up an impressive 12 points away from home.
However, Maikaba, who joined the side from Akwa United back in 2018, believes his team has been the best thus far and should therefore, be awarded the title, if things remained the same.
The 55-year-old tactician also maintained that the other managers won’t be offended if the league organisers decided to hand them the trophy claiming they all started the season together, but his side has been the most consistent.
“I think it would be fair to hand us the NPFL title,” he told Tidesports source.
“If you look at the number of match-days, out of the 25 match-days, we have been on top of the log for 21 match-days. So, I think we really deserve to be given the trophy as the winner of the league peradventure things continue like this.
Though, we don’t pray for that because we want the league to finish so that we can make sure that we satisfy ourselves as the real champions of the 2019/2020 seasons.”
“I believe we will finish and remain consistent because from the beginning of the season, we have been able to keep the distance between us and the second-place team to at least two points, but at the moment we have been able to extend the gap to four points, which I believe shows a clear sign of improvement moving towards the end of the competition.”
United, who last won the title in the 2017/2018 season has amassed 49 points from 25 matches before the league was brought to an abrupt halt due to the COVID-19 situation.
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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