Sports
NFF President Tasks NPFL, IMC On Integrity, Credibility
President of Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, says it is incumbent upon the newly-inaugurated Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) to make the competition better.
Gusau while inaugurating the IMC said it needed to imbue the league with integrity, credibility and a firm hand on management and administration to turn things around for the better.
The NFF President, who inaugurated the IMC at the Federation Secretariat in Abuja on Friday, pointed at lack of television broadcasting as one of the major drawbacks of the elite League.
“There is a lot of work to be done by this committee of eminent and respectable persons in Nigerian football, people with the pedigree and real calibre to effect change.
“One of the changes must be to ensure that our league is back on television, and that there is a lot of integrity and credibility to the way and manner it is being administered.
“I have tremendous confidence in the Chairman and members of the committee, that they will justify the confidence reposed in them by the government and people of Nigeria.”
Gusau thereafter presented to the chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, the terms of reference of the committee whose tenure is to end after three months.
While responding, Elegbeleye thanked the NFF President and his Executive Committee for the confidence they have proclaimed in the committee.
He assured that the IMC would do its best within the three-month lifespan to put in place building blocks a substantive team will improve on to rejuvenate, upgrade and upscale the NPFL.
“Definitely, we have a lot of problems in the league. We have problems of officiating, lack of television and several other hiccups.
“Our job will be to do a lot to redress these within the short time we have, and we also appeal to the media to ensure credibility in their reporting of the league,” Elegbeleye, a former Director-General of the defunct National Sports Commission (NSC), said.
The Tidesports source reports that Elegbeleye, also a former Vice-Chairman of the Youth and Sports Development Committee of the House of Representatives, was inaugurated alongside 13 others.
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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