Sports
Nigeria Tennis Team Ready For Africa Junior Tennis Tourney
The national junior ten
nis coach, Mohammed Ubale, has said the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) has built a formable U-18 junior team for the Africa Junior Championships (AJC) in Morocco.
The male players are Mohammed Mohammed, Joseph Imeh, Edward Christopher, Sadiq Tswako and Sylvester Emmanuel, while the female are Sarah Adegoke and Elizabeth Pam.
He said the players, all ranked by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), had been in camp in Kaduna since February 2 ahead of the competition.
The coach expressed optimism that the new team would make the country proud compared with their previous performance in the competition.
He said the former team lost out in the round of 16 singles, but advanced to the doublers quarter-finals at the last edition.
“The preparation is going on well, Morocco has clay court which will be used for the championships, so we had to camp in Kaduna because it has a clay court,’’ he said.
Ubale said the players were selected from the Nigeria U-18 players on the ITF ranking, adding that every player’s dream was to participate in the AJC.
“ The AJC is the biggest junior tennis event in Africa. Our highest ITF ranking player in the competition is 23, which is low. That is to show you the high level of the event.
“The ranking of our players are not that high because they did not have the opportunity to participate in most of the ITF ranking championships.
“ But in spite of that, I know they will make impact in this championships, they are all in good shape and fully prepared for the competition,’’ he said.
The championship will end February 27.
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.