SPORTS
Plateau Runners Sweep Adebayo’s Christmas Marathon…Cart Away 1st, 2nd, 3rd Prizes
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
Marathon runners from Plateau State have clinched the first, second and third positions in the annual Adewole Adebayo 2025 Christmas Marathon held yesterday in Ondo City, Ondo State.
The competition, which combined both male and female runners from African countries like Ghana, Benin Republic and Burundi as stated across Nigeria saw Plateau male runners carting away N2 million, N1 million and N500,000 as prize money for first, second and third positions, respectively.
There was also consolation prizes of N50,000 each for the fourth to 10th positions
The winners included Giang James Boi, Francis James and Musa Bala Sati.
The marathon was organised alongside Queen Lilian Adebayo Health Walk, where the top winners 10 winners got N100, 0000 each.
Speaking about the event, the Organizing Chairman of the Marathon, Omoyele Sowore, lamented that the event did not attract the needed international athletes as the organisers envisaged.
He advised that to get the needed international attention, there would be a better publicity for the event next year because the publicity this year started very late.
He noted that publicity would have brought more people to the event because the prizes were really good.
“It is a standardized process and our aim is to make it an international marathon. My suggestion is that if you are startng a marathon, you start small before you graduate. We want to do half marathon next and that will cost more.
“This been recognized as a marathon and there was a certificate that was issued to that effect.
“The area where I found some deficiency today is the water points because there was no water when we got there.
“You rarely find a marathon around Nigeria where they pay N2 million for the winner. But I also encourage that it should be higher because anybody who is running for 15 kilometers should not take anything less than N5 million.
“If we invited Kenyans, they won’t collect anything less than $20,000 for the winner. So, to be able to go international, the prize has to be right and that will attract international participation and participants,” he said.
However, the organiser, Prince Adewole Adebayo, said the marathon was designed to empower the youth and enable them to maximize their potential.
He encouraged the participants to always engage in meaningful activities that would better their lives.
Holders Nigeria’s Super Falcons will discover their group opponents at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday.
The draw ceremony will be held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat.
The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has expanded the biennial competition to 16 teams.
The Super Falcons, hosts Morocco Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde are among the teams that will compete for the title.
Others are Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.
The 16 qualified teams will be seeded into four pots based on the FIFA Women’s World Ranking from 11 December 2025.
CAF will also announce the winners of the CAF Women’s Coach of the Year and other outstanding women’s football awards at the draw ceremony.
The WAFCON 2026 finals will run from 17 March to 3 April, 2026.
Super Eagles players have threatened not to travel to Marrakech for their next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) match against Algeria unless all outstanding winning bonuses are paid by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
A highly reliable source within the team disclosed.
According to the source, players and officials are reportedly still awaiting their bonus payments from the tournament.
It was gathered that win bonuses for the four matches against Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Mozambique have yet to be settled.
While the team remains committed to the competition, they have made it clear that they will not train or travel to Marrakech for the next match unless the outstanding payments are resolved, our source confirmed.
Recall that in November, the team also threatened to boycott their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Gabon, citing unpaid entitlements.
In a joint statement signed by players and staff, the squad said, “The full squad, including officials, withheld from training today in Morocco because of unresolved issues with outstanding payments. The Super Eagles are awaiting a quick resolution to continue preparations for Thursday’s game with Gabon.”
Chelsea have announced the appointment of Liam Rosenior as their new head coach.
Rosenior will take charge at Stamford Bridge following Enzo Maresca’s departure last week.
The 41-year-old signed a contract until 2032.
Rosenior arrived at the London club after coaching overseas with RC Strasbourg, where he led the French club to European qualification for the first time in 19 years in his first season, and following earlier roles in England with Hull City and Derby County.
‘I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed Head Coach of Chelsea Football Club. This is a club with a unique spirit and a proud history of winning trophies,” Rosenior told the club’s official website.
‘My job is to protect that identity and create a team that reflects these values in every game we play as we continue winning trophies. To be entrusted with this role means the world to me and I want to thank all involved for the opportunity and faith in undertaking this job. I will give everything to bring the success this club deserves.
‘I believe deeply in teamwork, unity, togetherness and working for one another, and those values will be at the heart of everything we do. They will be the foundation of our success.
‘I am excited to work with this extremely talented group of players and staff, to build strong connections on and off the pitch, and to create an environment where everyone feels united and driven by the same goal.
‘There is a real hunger to win, and I will give everything, every single day, to help this team compete and win at the very highest level to make everyone connected and proud to be a part of Chelsea Football Club.
‘I want our fans to be proud of who we are and what we represent in every single game that we play. They are the soul of this enormous, historic and huge football club.
‘I cannot wait to meet you all. I cannot wait to get started.’
2027: ADC Ready to Take over Zamfara — Official
ShareKabiru Garba, Zamfara Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) says the party is ready to take over Zamfara from...
Bandits Release 24 Kogi Worshippers after Ransom Talks
ShareFrom Joseph Amedu, Lokoja No fewer than 24 parishioners abducted from a branch of Ecclesiastical Church Winning All(ECWA) Church at...
FG, ASUU Reach Truce after 17 Years of Strikes
ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have signed a landmark agreement...
WAFCON 2026: Super Falcons to Know Group Foes Today
ShareHolders Nigeria’s Super Falcons will discover their group opponents at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday. The...
Nigerian Army Begins Construction of New Training Depot in Ebonyi
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja The Nigerian Army has commenced the construction of an additional training depot at Amasiri-Edda in Afikpo...
NiMet Inaugurates AI Team to Advance Weather Forecasts
ShareThe Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has inaugurated an Artificial Intelligent (AI) research and integration team to advance weather forecasting innovation....
Gunmen Kill PDP House of Assembly Candidate, Four Others in Benue
ShareFrom Attah Ede, Makurdi Suspected armed herders have killed five persons, including the house of assembly candidate for Otukpo-Akpa state...
NAF Invites Youths for Tech-driven Airpower Innovation through CAS Literary Competition
ShareThe Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has called on Nigerian youths to channel their creativity and intellect toward shaping the future...
Police Confirms Slaughter Homes in Benue, Apprehends 41 Suspects
ShareFrom Attah Ede, Makurdi Policemen in Benue State have arrested 41 suspects in connection with the alleged slaughter homes operating...
Tinubu Visits, Opens New Trade Front with UAE
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja President Bola Tinubu yesterday signed a landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab...