Sports
Nigerian Clubs Can’t Win CAFCL – Coach
The chairman of Remo Stars FC, Kunle Soname, has declared that it would be difficult for any Nigerian club to win the prestigious CAF Champions League for now. Enyimba of Aba is Nigeria’s most successful club, after winning the CAF Champions League twice in 2003 and 2004. The Peoples’ Elephants defeated Ismaily of Egypt 2-1 on goals aggregate to lift the title for the first time in 2003 to end Nigerians long wait. They retained the crown the following year, with cash and moral support flowing from former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.
Since then, Nigerian clubs merely make up the numbers in CAF competitions.
Speaking with Tidesports source at Ikenne on Friday at the end of the 2023 MTN/NPFL/LaLiga U-15 tournament, Soname said: “I don’t see any Nigerian club winning the CAF Champions League for now because of the huge financial burden involved.”
This season, Remo Stars made its continental debut, but faded away in the early stage of the CAF Confederation Cup. The Ikenne Warriors lost at home 1-0 to Morocco’s AS FAR, after recording a soul lifting 1-1 draw away in Casablanca two weeks earlier. They lost 2-1 on aggregate to become the fifth Nigerian club to crash out to the ‘military’ tactics of the Royal Moroccan Army football club.
Soname whose football academy and sports facilities at Remo, Ikenne is attracting football scouts from across the world, said that Nigerian clubs does not have the financial capacity required to win the CAF Champions League at the moment.
“I am saying this with all sincerity because finance has a huge role to play in modern day football,” Soname said. “We played against Morocco’s AS FAR and lost due to a number of factors. In our team, the highest paid player earns around $1,000, if you convert it at the rate of N750 per dollar. But in the Morocco’s AS FAR, a majority of the players earn between $10,000 and $11,000 monthly. Apart from having more money to recruit players, the North African clubs have more experience players. The only good thing about us is that in Nigeria, we have abundant talents waiting to be nurtured into stardom. You need a combination of experience players and money to do well in CAF competitions. We will continue to do our best,” Soname stated.
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.
-
Business2 days agoNERC Amends Order on Meter Tampering, Power Bypass For Discos
-
News2 days agoPolice Arrest Nigerian, Two Others For Kidnapping In Edo
-
Business2 days agoNigeria, AFC sign $1.3 billion deal to build alumina refinery
-
Rivers2 days agoKENPOLY Rector Promises To Prioritise Students’ Welfare
-
Business2 days agoNCDMB Signs Mgt Deal With Radisson, Edison…As Board’s 204 Rooms Hotel Open December 2026
-
Rivers2 days agoDon, Stakeholders Urge Environmental Laws In N’Delta
-
Rivers2 days agoADIAFRICA Flags-off Free Eye Screening Outreach In PH
-
Environment2 days agoIWD: NGO promotes clean energy access for women in Kaduna