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AFN Golden League Home-Based Athletes Jostle For Honours

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The Athletics Federation of
Nigeria (AFN) and the Anambra State Athletics Association are set to stage the maiden AFN/ Anambra Golden League, which would feature no fewer than 800 athletes.
The athletes include some 400 students from secondary schools across the state. The event has been scheduled to hold at the Rojenny Stadium, Oba tomorrow  in the athletics-loving state.
Anambra is reputed to have in the past produced top world-class athletics beaters, the likes of Mary Onyali, Innocent Egbunike and Uche Emedolu.
Egbunike still remains the current African record holder in 400 metres. He posted 44.17 seconds at 1987 World Athletics Championship in Rome, which had still been standing 28 years after.
He also won a bronze in the 4X400 at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, hosted by the U.S., in addition to a series of gold medals from the Africa and the Commonwealth Games.
Onyali on the other hand, won multiple gold medals at the Africa Games. She was also a bronze medalist in the 4X100 metres at the 1992 Barcelona Games.
Sprinter, Emodolu won a World Cup in athletics at the 2002 World Cup in Madrid, Spain. He also won a bronze in the 4X100 metres, at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, among other medals he won at the Commonwealth and the Africa Games.
The Golden league event has on offer, not less than N1.5 million as jackpot.
The league would also offer opportunity for the home-based to prepare ahead of the AFN/CRS All Nigeria Athletics Championships, which would serve as trials for the Beijing 2015 IAAF World Championships.
The Championships are scheduled to hold from August 27 to August 30 at the Birds Nest in Beijing, China.
The league will also serve as trials for the selection of athletes to the 11th All Africa Games scheduled to run from September 4 to September 19 in Congo Brazzaville.
The question on the lips of many has been, will the home-based be able to withstand their foreign-based counterparts when they troop down to jostle for places in the team for the Africa Games and the World Championships.
According to Kayode Thomas, the spokesman of the AFN, Kayode Thomas  in a statement, the Golden League was designed to help the home-based to raise their performances to be able to give their foreign-based counterparts a run for their money at the trials.
The Technical Director of the AFN, Omatseye Nesiama said athletes must score a minimum of 1,070 points in the track sprints events and 1,050 in other track events to be able to make it to the trials.
He added that in the jumps, athletes must score a minimum of 1,050 points and score a minimum of 900 points in the throws events to be considered for the trials.
In Walk Race event, athletes must score a minimum of 700 and 350 points by the men and women respectively to be at the trials.
Nesiama said not less than 20 events would feature at Golden league competition.

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Amusan places third in Diamond League opener

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World record holder Tobi Amusan finished third in the women’s 100m hurdles as the 2026 Diamond League season opened in Shanghai on Saturday, Tidesports source reports.

The Nigerian, who arrived in China fresh from winning gold at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Ghana earlier on Wednesday, clocked a season’s best of 12.41s behind Olympic champion Masai Russell and Bahamian star Devynne Charlton.

Russell produced a dominant display to win the race in a meeting record and world-leading time of 12.25s, improving on her previous world lead of 12.40s.

Charlton, the reigning world indoor champion, finished second in 12.38s in one of her strongest outdoor performances to date.

Amusan, whose world record of 12.12s remains the fastest time ever run in the event, improved significantly from her previous season’s best of 12.84s set during her victorious outing at the African Championships in Accra.

The 29-year-old was competing in a stacked field that included reigning world champion Ditaji Kambundji of Switzerland, Jamaican pair Megan Simmonds and Ackera Nugent, China’s Wu Yanni and Americans Tonea Marshall and Danielle Williams.

Kambundji, who won the world title in Tokyo last year with a Swiss record 12.24s, finished fifth in 12.82s, while Jamaica’s Nugent placed sixth in 12.98s.

Marshall and Williams failed to finish the race.

Following Amusan’s victory in Accra, the three-time Diamond League final winner expressed gratitude to her supporters while insisting she remained determined to achieve more success this season.

“Beyond grateful to God, my team, supporters, and everyone who continues to believe in me through every season. Historic feeling. Still hungry for more. The mission continues,”

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Falcons To Tackle Senegal in Pre-WAFCON friendly

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Nigeria’s Super Falcons will face Senegal in a double-header international friendly during the June FIFA women’s international window as the African champions step up preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Tidesports source reports. 

The 10-time African champions are scheduled to take on the Teranga Lionesses on June 5 and 8 at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, in what will form a key part of their build-up to July’s continental tournament.

The fixtures were confirmed on social media platform X by Super Falcons Show, which announced the details of the encounter and venue.

“Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons, will take on Senegal Women’s National Team in a double-header international friendly scheduled for June 5 and 8,” the post read.

“Both matches will be played in Ikenne, Nigeria.”

The friendlies come after Nigeria’s proposed training tour of the United Kingdom, which included a planned match against Jamaica, was cancelled due to scheduling complications linked to FIFA’s official women’s international window. The timing meant clubs would not have been obliged to release players.

With that tour shelved, the Senegal fixtures now offer a timely opportunity for coach Justine Madugu and his technical team to assess squad options, test tactical systems and strengthen team cohesion ahead of the WAFCON campaign and longer-term qualification targets for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Senegal are expected to provide a competitive regional test, with their physical style and disciplined organisation likely to offer Nigeria a different tactical challenge across both matches.

The Super Falcons, who have dominated African women’s football for decades, will be aiming to use the double-header to fine-tune preparations as they pursue another continental title in Morocco next year.

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Okpekpe Road Race Unveils Partners, Appoints Dr. Bojuwoye

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The organisers of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race have announced the appointment of Dr Adebukola Bojuwoye as the head of the medical unit for the 11th edition of the prestigious event, scheduled for Saturday, May 30, in Okpekpe, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.

Dr Bojuwoye, a seasoned medical professional with extensive experience in road running events across Nigeria, is expected to bring added value to the race through his expertise.

As medical director, his responsibilities will include overseeing emergency medical response, coordinating first aid stations along the course, ensuring athlete safety, and supervising medical volunteers and paramedics.

His role is critical in safeguarding the health of both elite and recreational runners, as well as spectators.

In addition to unveiling its new medical director, the organisers also announced five corporate partners for the 2026 edition.

The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Petralon Energy, Razzl Drink, Dan Oil, and Carloha Motors have joined as sponsors, reflecting the race’s growing appeal across diverse sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The Okpekpe race, organised by Pamodzi Sports Marketing Company, has steadily risen in prominence since becoming the first road race in Nigeria to earn World Athletics label status in 2015.

It has since advanced to Gold Label Race status, attracting elite athletes from around the world and cementing its reputation as one of Africa’s benchmark road-running competitions.

Edo State, under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebolo, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the race, citing its role in promoting tourism, community pride, and international recognition for the region.

Race Director Zack Amodu noted that the new partnerships underscore the event’s stature and its impact beyond sport.

We are delighted to welcome DBN, Petralon, Razzl, and Carloha Motors as partners for the 11th edition. Their support, alongside the backing of Edo State, not only strengthens the race but also reinforces its role as a platform for promoting excellence, youth empowerment, and community development,’ Amodu said.

Beyond its sporting significance, the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race has become a catalyst for social, health, and economic benefits.

It encourages fitness and healthy lifestyles, fosters social cohesion by bringing communities together, and generates economic activity through tourism, hospitality, and local commerce.

The event also showcases Edo State’s cultural vibrancy while contributing to Nigeria’s growing reputation in global athletics.

The 11th edition is expected to draw elite athletes, local participants, and international attention, further consolidating Nigeria’s place on the global athletics calendar.

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