Sports
Africa Junior Tennis Tourney: Nigeria Sure To Win Gold
Nigeria is sure of getting a gold medal in both the girls and boys U-14 and U-16 categories at the ongoing African Junior Tennis Championship in Togo.
Number one seed, Seun Ogunsakin, battled his fiercest rival and friend, Mubarak Ganiyu, for a place in the final of the Boys U-16 on Monday.
At the moment, the duo is Nigeria’s most talented youngsters, and yesterday’s meeting was their 20th battle inside the court. Honor was on the line as Ogunsakin, who is the tournament’s No 1 seed. He had won 10 of their 19 previous meetings, while Mubarak was looking to equal the record head to head.
In a tough battle that went on for over two hours, Ogunsakin got the better of Mubarak in two tight sets. The Ekiti-born player won 7-6, 6-4 to advance to the final of the competition. He is the tournament’s number one seed and has been tipped as clear favorite for the gold.
Bright Emmanuel also qualified for the final of the girls U-14 event, yesterday, after shocking Ndidi Osaji, who was a favourite at the start of hostilities.
She beat Osaji 6-1, 6-2 in a match of deuces, to become the first Nigerian medalist at the competition.
Also, Khadijat Mohammed’s 6-0, 6-2 defeat of her opponent ensured an all-Nigeria final in the girls U-14 event. She will play today against Bright Emmanuel, another bright junior player, for the gold medal.
Earlier yesterday, Ogunsakin had a field day against Saheed Boateng of Ghana, winning 6-3, 6-3 to set up the mouthwatering semifinal clash against Mubarak, who also saw off Yves Segui Kouadja from Ivory Coast. The Nigerian won in two str aight sets of 6-3, 6-4.
Yahaya Sani cramped against Pakome Kakpo from Benin Republic, though he was trailing 3-6 against his opponent. Etoro Bassey, who looked to leave her mark in the tournament, also suffered the same fate, as she lost despite leading a set to love and was 2-0 up a break in the second set.
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.