Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa led the nine other states in organising trials for local government and federal constituencies on the first day of the trials for the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) from Tuesday, March 11.

In Yenagoa, Bayelsa State declared that it was aiming to put forward its best young athletes in a fair and competitive environment.

It turned out to be trail blazing of sorts in Eket where Akwa Ibom held the first day of trials with athletes featuring in Canoeing, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Basketball and Athletics.

It was gathered that the Commissioner for Sports Development and Chairman of the Bayelsa State Liaison Committee, Hon. Daniel Igali, who also serves on the Main Organizing Committee (MOC), met with the Bayelsa State Working Committee in his office on Wednesday.

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The meeting was to strategize towards achieving the expected goals for the festival that holds in Uyo from April 1-8.

Igali emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of the competition by ensuring that all participating athletes meet the age requirement of 25 years and below. He reiterated that while winning is important, the primary focus should be on fair play, development, and showcasing young talent.

Igali met at the Ministry’s Conference Hall, with the coaches and association secretaries.

The discussions centred on establishing a structured and practical framework for conducting trials at both the Local Government Area (LGA) and Senatorial District levels.

In Eket, Hon. Commissioner for Sports, Paul Bassey was seen at different competion grounds supervising the trials with budding talents from the Eket Senatorial District competing for one of 316 coveted spots to represent the state at the inaugural event.

From the pitch to the tracks, mat, sand, river, pool, and courts, young athletes gave their all, showcasing their skills in various sports, including football, track and field, weightlifting, traditional wrestling, swimming, basketball, boxing, tennis, handball, canoeing, and volleyball. The organization of the trails was top-notch, conforming to the standards set by the Main Organizing Committee (MOC) of the festival.

The technical lead of the Akwa Ibom State Liaison Committee, Catherine Ekuta Ewa, expressed her excitement about the talents on display, saying, “If we can harness the talents we have seen here, Akwa Ibom will have a very bright future in sports.” She also thanked the organizers for creating an avenue for young athletes to be screened and aspire to compete at a higher level.

The trials, which were held in various locations across the Eket Senatorial District, including Eket town, Ibeno LGA, and Oron, saw a high level of competition, with many young athletes displaying exceptional skills and energy.

Nine states including Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Delta are among the competing states. The rest are Edo, Imo, Cross River, Ondo and Rivers. The festival is sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as a sports intervention project to mark its 25th anniversary and also help to harness talents in the region.

Former Cameroon international and current FECAFOOT president, Samuel Eto’o, has been elected unopposed to the CAF Executive Committee during the organization’s extraordinary general assembly in Cairo on Wednesday.

Eto’o, who was the sole candidate from Central Africa, was initially barred from contesting due to a CAF-imposed suspension.

However, last week, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned the ban, clearing the path for his return to football administration at the continental level.

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Eto’o’s election comes after a turbulent period in his administrative career.

Last year, CAF suspended and fined him $200,000 for what it described as an ethics violation, citing his involvement as a brand ambassador for a betting company.

However, the sanction was later quashed by CAS, allowing him to re-enter the CAF leadership structure.

Despite his election, Eto’o’s tenure at the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) has been marred by controversies.

He has faced allegations of misconduct, including a six-month FIFA ban from attending Cameroon national team matches after a disciplinary incident at the 2023 Women’s U-20 World Cup in Colombia.

Additionally, the ex-Barcelona and Inter Milan star was caught on video assaulting a football supporter outside a stadium at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He later issued a public apology, saying:

“I would like to apologise for losing my temper and reacting in a way that does not match my personality. It was an unfortunate incident.”

Eto’o’s election to the CAF Executive Committee marks a significant step in his transition from player to administrator.

Widely regarded as one of Africa’s greatest footballers, he enjoyed a decorated playing career, winning two AFCON titles (2000, 2002), an Olympic gold medal in 2000, and holding the record as AFCON’s all-time leading scorer with 18 goals.

South African businessman Patrice Motsepe has been re-elected unopposed as the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), securing a second four-year term at the helm of the continent’s football governing body.

His re-election took place during CAF’s extraordinary general assembly in Cairo on Wednesday, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino in attendance.

Motsepe, who first assumed office in 2021, initially took over from Malagasy Ahmad Ahmad, who was suspended by FIFA over financial misconduct.

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Motsepe’s leadership has been praised for bringing stability and financial improvements to CAF.

The organization’s secretary general, Veron Mosengo-Omba, credited the South African billionaire with introducing better governance structures.

“Patrice was a gift for African football. In 2021, CAF was a toxic body. He brought good governance to all levels of the organisation,” Mosengo-Omba stated ahead of the election.