Sports
WACL: I Don’t See Any Group Of Death – Okon
Following the recent CAF Women’s Champions draws, head coach of Nigeria’s CAF Champions League representative, Rivers Angels, Edwin Okon has said that his side is not in a tough group.
The Reigning Nigeria Women Football League Premiership Champions were on Wednesday grouped alongside winners of the UNAF qualifiers, ASFAR Club (MAR), champions of the CECAFA zone and 3-time champions of the Kenyan Women’s Football League, Vihiga Queens and COSAFA winners, Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) in November’s inaugural edition of the Champions League.
According to Okon, adequate preparation will prevent his side from being rattled by any kind of opposition in the group stage.
“I want to thank God for qualification first and as for the draws, I don’t think anything is impossible. As far as football is concerned, every group is a good group.
“Our group might as well be a group of death like you know but one has to be prepared to meet any team at whatever level.
“So I don’t see any group as group of death, it is either you prepare well and do well or you prepare badly and do badly,” Okon added.
The former Super Falcons gaffer also disclosed that his team has one more pre-season tournament to go for after the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament before heading to Egypt for the Champions League.
“It’s still work in progress, as you can see we are already in Benin for this tournament because we are trying to see what we have on ground”, he said.
“We still have one more preseason to attend after here and that will help us work on some lapses ahead of the big one in Egypt.
“The target is to put up a better outing at the continent and the only way we can achieve this is by adequate preparations. We don’t want to be in Egypt to make up numbers but to participate and leave a mark,” summed Okon.
The draw was held at CAF headquarters in Cairo and coordinated by CAF’s Director of Competitions, Samson Adamu, with the assistance of Nigerian legend, Perpetua Nkwocha and the captain of Wadi Degla and Egyptian National team captain, Alia Zenouki.
Rivers Angels’ first group game is against ASFAR Club of Morocco, date and time will be communicated later.
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.