Sports
Nigeria Confirms Friendly With Scotland
Nigeria will prepare for
the Brazil World Cup with a friendly against Scotland at Fulham’s Craven Cottage on 28 May.
The match against Gordon Strachan’s side will take place six days before Nigeria face World Cup bound Greece in another warm-up game in Philadelphia, United States.
With so many Super Eagles footballers based in Europe, Scotland are regarded as good opponents for those fringe players hoping to make it into coach Stephen Keshi’s final World Cup squad.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)’s official match agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata said, “This game provides big opportunities for the coaches, players and fans of the Super Eagles.
“Playing Scotland at the end of several European leagues should help the players get to London easily.
“It’s also an important opportunity for the coach to see some players before their big camp in the United States.
“Significantly, it will enable the Nigerian community in the UK and across Europe to see the team before the World Cup in Brazil.”
Nigeria last met Scotland in 2002, when the Super Eagles came from behind to win 2-1 in Aberdeen.
Today, the African Champions are in Georgia, Atlanta to take on Mexico in another friendly match.
Nigeria will also play Greece in Philadelphia on 3 June then face USA in Jacksonville, Florida on 7 June.
The matches will be part of the Super Eagles’ final preparations as they set up camp in Houston in the United States before leaving for Brazil.
Brazil 2014 will be Nigeria’s fifth appearance at a World Cup finals.
The Super Eagles face Iran in Group F before taking on Bosnia-Herzegovina, and will finish against Argentina in a bid to reach the last 16, as they did in both 1994 and 1998.
They will hope to avoid falling at the first hurdle – a fate they suffered in both 2002 and 2010.
Despite losing both their opening group games in South Africa, the Super Eagles could still have reached the last 16 had they beaten South Korea in their final game, but were held to a 2-2 draw to finish bottom of the pool.
Their best outings at the tournament were in 1994 and 1998 when they reached the knockout round of 16.
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.