Sports
Sun Sets For Ifeanyi Ubah FC After Six-Year NPFL Campaign
FC Ifeanyi Ubah (FCIU) ended their six-year uninterrupted campaign in elite division with a 1-0 win against Warri Wolves on August 5, in the 2020/2021 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) but fell short of overcoming relegation.
The victory was not enough for FCIU, popularly known as ‘Anambra Warriors’, to scale relegation as they finished 19th on the final league table.
Tidesports source reports that in the meantime, sports administrators and enthusiasts have been expressing divergent views on the implications of the Anambra Warriors exit from the NPFL to the State, as well as the issue of private club ownership and management.
While Anambra parades a galaxy of football stars, it now joins the league of those without ambassadors in the NPFL, while the FCIU had chalked up the longest record of a privately-owned club that survived in the NPFL.
Other relegated clubs, over the years, included the likes of Giwa FC of Jos, Ikorodu United of Lagos, Remo Star of Abeokuta, ABS FC of Ilorin, Go Round FC and Nembe FC, all of which had suffered relegation from the top league in the last seven years.
A Green Eagles veteran, Arthur Ebunam, blamed FCIU’s ouster on low player morale and survival challenges in the league.
Ebunam, who played in many Nigerian clubs, stated that football management needed so much attention and that Nigeria’s league was not designed to encourage private investors.
“Private club owners don’t have what it takes to run clubs in Nigeria, football is not run like a regular business; professionalism and players’ welfare are germane.
“I have been in the forefront of fighting the government to own a club; Anambra State is not the poorest, the state is overdue to own one,” he said.
Afootball coach, Chris Abakare, said the relegation of FCIU was a bitter lesson that will linger for a long time as their presence in the NPFL served as motivation for many clubs and players.
Abakare said a lesson from the development was that individuals, who owned clubs should, as much as they could, ensure that the management structure was separated from their person.
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.