Sports
NBBF Cancels US Camp …As Players Fail To Turn Up
Nigeria’s preparation for the 2023 Afrobasket Women’s Championship, billed to hold in Rwanda from July 28 to August 6, has suffered a huge setback, as players expected to participate in the tryout refused to join the exercise.
According to a source in the United State camp, D’Tigress new Coach, Rena Wakama, cancelled the second day of tryout, which was supposed to hold from July 8 to 11 in Chicago, United State, when she could not get enough players for the exercise.
The source said the tryout would now move to Abuja where home-based players and some of their overseas-based counterparts are expected to participate in the screening for players less than 10 days before the Afrobasket Championship.
There are fears that the coach may not have top quality players to choose from following some of the established stars resolve to boycott the exercise, which they described as an insult to the players.
Recently, 2019 Afrobasket champion, Oderah Chidom, announced that she was quitting the team, citing a ‘lack of professionalism’ from the NBBF.
She told Tidesports source that after the upheaval within Nigerian basketball that led to the withdrawal of the team from the FIBA World Cup, the open tryouts were the last straw for her.
According to Chidom, seeing an Instagram post of open tryouts in three different locations three weeks before Afrobasket was the last straw.
“I will not be attending. I don’t think that’s professional at all. I consider myself a professional. And I don’t think it’s okay for me to pay my way to try out for something when I think I have a resume that speaks for itself.
“I have standards of how I conduct business at the professional level, and Nigeria continues to disappoint me.
“This is a national team. Generally, what you do is you invite a group of professionals and you compete in a camp and then the 12 best at that camp get to compete on whatever team and that’s mostly how a national team is conducted.”
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.