Sports
Iyaye Urges Rivers Angels To Play With Honour
Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Honourable Boma Iyaye, has tasked players and technical crew of the state-owned club, Rivers Angels, to approach their last group game against Vihiga Queens today with great honour.
Iyaye arrived in Cairo on Tuesday night for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League tournament in which Rivers Angels are one of the eight participating clubs.
The Jewel of Rivers suffered a heavy defeat in their opening group game to ASFAR Club of Morocco, losing 3-0 and on Tuesday night they lost to Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa by a lone goal.
Iyaye, who paid the team a visit at their hotel on Wednesday afternoon expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance so far but however tasked them to ensure they go all out on Friday (today’s) to erase the bad results they’ve recorded so far in the competition.
“If I say I’m not disappointed, then know that I’m lying to you and myself. The results from the last two games are totally unacceptable,” he began.
“However, we cannot leave this country without correcting these mistakes and the opportunity for this is on Friday when you play your last group game.
“Even if we don’t qualify, we should at least go out with our heads up high and prove to naysayers that we aren’t a bad side.
“Don’t let your previous outing affect your mindset ahead of Friday’s game. If we must go home, then we should do so with a bang,” added Iyaye.
Rivers Angels will be up against Kenyan side Vihiga Queens today in their last group game by 4pm (3pm in Nigeria) inside the 30 June Stadium, Cairo.
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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