Sports
S’Eagles Skipper Calls For Home-Based Inclusion
Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has called for the inclusion of home-based players in the Nigerian national team, adding that there are lots of quality players in the Nigerian league.
The 31-year-old stated that players plying their trade in the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) have the quality to represent the country, adding that the players being ignored have contributed to the trend of players moving to Europe.
He also recalled the contribution of home-based players to Nigeria’s last triumph at the Nations Cup in 2013, where Sunday Mba (a home-based player) scored the only goal in the final against Burkina Faso to hand Nigeria her third AFCON title.
He made this known during the public launch of the ‘Let’s Do It Again campaign’, ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast next year.
His words: “In 2013, before our semifinal match against Ivory Coast, our return tickets had since been secured because nobody believed we could go there and beat Ivory Coast, which paraded the fearsome Didier Drogba, Yahaya and Kolo Toure, Solomon Kalou, and a host of others.
“They were called the ‘golden generation’ of Ivorian football. We had seven home-based players in the squad, with five of them in the starting lineup. But because the chief coach, the late Stephen Keshi, Da Bull Amokachi, and Sylvanus Okpala, believed in us, we achieved the impossible.
“So we need to go back to that starting point where we have our league. I started in the local league. If nobody believed in me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. We have a lot of players in the domestic league.
“If the home-based players are being ignored for national duties, what are they playing for? We are not encouraging them. That is why everybody wants to go to Europe. They feel that Nigerian football is no longer interesting.
“But for me, remember, I returned to Kano Pillars. Even if they are paid N500,000, they will stay and play here, where they can always see their families and be happy.”
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.
-
News1 day agoPolice Arrest Nigerian, Two Others For Kidnapping In Edo
-
Business18 hours agoNigeria, AFC sign $1.3 billion deal to build alumina refinery
-
Business18 hours agoNERC Amends Order on Meter Tampering, Power Bypass For Discos
-
Rivers17 hours agoKENPOLY Rector Promises To Prioritise Students’ Welfare
-
Nation1 day agoPerm Sec Explains Success Of FGM Elimination Programme In Rivers
-
News1 day agoNDLEA Arrests Ex-Councillor With 40kg Skunk, Recovers Drugs In Diapers
-
Business18 hours agoNCDMB Signs Mgt Deal With Radisson, Edison…As Board’s 204 Rooms Hotel Open December 2026
-
Rivers17 hours agoADIAFRICA Flags-off Free Eye Screening Outreach In PH