Sports
Gambia Considers Quitting WAFU
The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) is considering its position within the West African Football Union (WAFU).
The comments are coming after refereeing controversies at the last two regional tournaments.
The GFF has submitted complaints to the regional body and the Confederation of African Football over a penalty awarded at the ongoing WAFU Cup of Nations in Ghana.
“We’re considering our position in WAFU because with all the resources invested in it to go out in such manner is not fair,” the GFF President Lamin Kabba Bajo told Tidesports source.
“We will probably discuss the issue in a month’s time during our next executive committee meeting.”
The Gambia was knocked out of the tournament when hosts Ghana scored from the spot after Burkina Faso’s Boukari Ouedraogo adjudged a Gambian player had handled the ball.
This is the second consecutive WAFU Cup of Nations tournament in which The Gambia feels they have been treated unfairly.
Two years ago Senegal was crowned regional champions when The Gambia refused to play extra-time following a goalless draw.
They pointed to the fact that the match officials had said the match would go straight to penalties before ultimately reviewing the rules that stipulated extra-time should be played first.
The GFF’s protest also pointed to two other matches that it feels were poorly officiated recently.
One was an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in September 2016 when the Scorpions lost 2-0 in Cameroon, when the recently banned Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey was in charge.
The other involved controversial offside decisions during an Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in July 2016 as The Gambia lost 2-1 on aggregate to Guinea.
Meanwhile, in Nigeria, the League Management Company (LMC) has rescinded its decision to relegate Shooting Stars from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
On Saturday, the LMC announced 3SC as one of the four teams (alongside Remo, Gombe and ABS) relegated to the Nigeria National League (NNL).
The Ibadan club lost 2-0 away to Niger Tornadoes in Lokoja on the final day of the season.
Their relegation was confirmed, after it was reported that another team fighting relegation, Wikki Tourists, pipped Gombe United 1-0 in Gombe. But reports later surfaced, that the game was abandoned due to crowd trouble.
Following the development, LMC has now come out to state that until the match report of the game between Gombe United and Wikki Tourists is available, the fourth team that will join Remo, ABS and Gombe (Wikki and 3SC) in the lower division is yet to be decided.
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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