Sports
Nigeria Beat Brazil In Cricket Tournament
The Nigeria National Women Cricket team, Female Yellow-Greens shoved aside the Brazilian Women’s team in their opening match of the ongoing 2022 Kwibuka T20i Women’s Tournament at the Gahanga Cricket Stadium in Rwanda.
Nigerian Women went ahead to beat their South American opponents by 8 wickets.
Nigeria won the toss and opted to field at the 3rd match of the ongoing event. The Nigerian team held the Brazilian Women to 53 all out in the first innings, with a well-coordinated bowling order. Abdul Rasaq Rukayat took four wickets, Eseigbe Rache had three while Samson Rachel and Lillian Ude had two and one respectively to rattle the Brazilian side.
In the second innings, it only took the Nigeria Women 10.5 overs to put up a 56-run total and get the first victory in the bag in the Kwibuka Campaign.
Coach of the National Women’s Team, Leke Oyede, said that the team will improve as they play more matches and he believes that the best of the team has not been seen.
“We came to this event with our match plan and experience has taught us to take the matches as they come. We are very happy for this victory, but we are more focused on the next match.
There is no gainsaying that the victory was well deserved, but we still have some work to do, we were a bit careless in some areas and we need to plug all the leakages as we perfect our game plans” he said after the match.
The Nigerian team will be taking on Germany on Friday, June 10 at the IPRC pitch.
In the opening match of the tournament, host Rwanda lost to Uganda by six wickets while defending Champion Kenya beat Botswana by 35 runs.
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.