Sports
U-20 Women’s W/Cup: Falconets Ready For Tunisia
The Head Coach of the na
tional under-20 women football team, Peter Dedevbo, has said he had 25 players in camp for the team’s upcoming games against Tunisia.
The Falconets will face their Tunisian counterparts in the qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup slated for Canada.
The first leg game of the second round fixture is scheduled for December 14 in Abuja.
The Falconets had thrashed their Sierra Leonean counterparts 16-0 aggregate in the first round to set up the clash against Tunisia.
They had won the first leg game 10-0 in Abuja, before going on to beat the Sierra Leoneans 6-0 in the second leg game in Freetown.
Speaking at the team’s interactive session with the media, Dedevbo said the players were highly motivated to replicate the performance they exhibited against Sierra Leone.
“Currently, we have 25 players in camp. They were 30 when we returned from our break, but we have had to prune the number after one week.
“This is to enable us have a sizeable number we can focus on towards the match next week. However, the team is in high spirits ahead of the fixture,’’ Dedevbo said.
He said the team’s technical crew had studied the video tapes of the games involving the Tunisian team and would plan to counter all their strategies.
Dedevbo also said that the Nigerian team was responding positively to training, adding that there were no injury worries yet.
“I was able to watch their tapes and I discovered that their performance is average. However, they are good in scoring goals. But I am optimistic that we are going to defeat them.
“After watching the video tapes of their home and away matches against Algeria, I saw a team that is not too good in holding balls. It was unfortunate that the Algerians lost.
“So, we are expecting victory against the Tunisians. But that does not mean we will underrate any team. We have been working very hard since we came back from break,” he said.
The team’s Co-ordinator, Andrew Abah, said that the cordial relationship between the coaches and players would help them to achieve success.
He said the Tunisians would not be an obstacle to the Falconets’ ambition.
“One good thing about these players is that they listen to their coaches’ instructions and they are always ready to learn.
“Some of them usually tell me that they want to be the first female team in Africa to lift the World Cup.
“They say they want to achieve the feat the Golden Eaglets are now becoming well known for doing,’’ Abah said.
The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is scheduled to take place in Canada between August 5 to 24, next year.
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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