Sports
2026 Niger Delta Games, Edo Dethrones Defending Champions, Bayelsa
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The second edition of the Niger Delta Games ended in electrifying fashion yesterday at the iconic Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City as Edo State dethroned defending champions Bayelsa to emerge the overall winners.
At the close of competition, Edo topped the medals table with 111 medals made up of 52 gold, 34 silver and 25 bronze.
Delta followed in second place with 39 gold, 29 silver and 34 bronze (102 medals), while defending champions Bayelsa finished third with 25 gold, 24 silver and 26 bronze medals (75 overall). Akwa Ibom came fourth with 16 gold, 17 silver and 22 bronze medals for 55 medals overall while Abia, Cross River, Ondo, Rivers and Imo finished in fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth.
Meanwhile, the relays provided a fittingly dramatic climax to the championship, organised by Dunamis Icon Limited and sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission.
Although Edo celebrated overall supremacy, Delta State once again underlined its dominance on the track by winning three of the four relay events to cap a commanding athletics campaign.
Delta struck gold in both the women’s and men’s 4x100m as well as the women’s 4x400m events.
In the women’s 4x100m, the quartet of Chinonso Odika, Ejiro Peter, Vivin Iyamu and Chukwuma Faith stormed to victory in 46.20 seconds, finishing ahead of Bayelsa (46.70s) and Edo (46.77s).
The men’s 4x100m saw Osama Chibueze, Onoriode Peter, Godswill Saturday and Gift Gowon combine smoothly to clinch gold in 40.55 seconds. Bayelsa followed with 41.12s, while Rivers secured bronze in 41.26s.
Delta completed a hat-trick of relay triumphs in the women’s 4x400m. Mary Innocent, Ossai Siviana, Treasure Okereke and Rejoice Anochie clocked 3:38.68, with Anochie delivering a decisive anchor leg to overtake Akwa Ibom, who settled for silver in 3:39.25. Rivers claimed bronze in 3:50.37.
Akwa Ibom prevented a clean sweep by Delta in the relays by winning the men’s 4x400m. Essien Faithwin powered through a blistering anchor leg to seal victory in 3:14.87, alongside teammates Bassey Mfoniso, Udotong Edidiong and Udoh David. Delta finished a close second in 3:15.26, while Bayelsa placed third in 3:15.86.
With Edo State having already secured enough points to guarantee the overall title before the final relay events, jubilation filled the stadium as athletes and supporters celebrated a memorable achievement on home soil.
Beyond the sporting spectacle, the Games also showcased the region’s rich culture during a vibrant Cultural Expo Night headlined by popular comedian Okey Bakkassi.
Ondo State emerged winners of the dance competition, claiming the ₦1 million prize. The reward was generously doubled by Bukola Olopade, Director General of the National Sports Commission, who graced both the cultural night and the closing ceremony.
Spain are the latest team to confirm their place in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
The European champions thrashed Austria 3-0 in their Round of 32 clash on Thursday evening.
It was a display of complete dominance by Luis de la Fuente’s men, as they lived up to their pre-tournament billing as favourites.
Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring for Spain in the first half, before Pedro Porro doubled their advantage in the 66th minute.
Oyarzabal continued his fine scoring form with a second late on.
They will now face the winner of Portugal.
Other teams confirmed in the last 16 are: USA, England, Belgium, France, Brazil, Norway, Morocco, Paraguay, Canada and Mexico.
Spain coasted past Austria and into the World Cup last-16 on Thursday, thoroughly outclassing their opponents in a 3-0 knockout win with a brace from Mikel Oyarzabal and a Pedro Porro header.
The European champions controlled possession and sliced through the Austrian defense in a typically dominant performance in Los Angeles, as Hollywood stars Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem and singer Rosalia cheered on.
The win — which could have been by a greater margin, with a disallowed goal and a free kick off the woodwork — sets up a tantalizing round-of-16 clash with either Portugal or Croatia.
The SoFi Stadium was a sea of red and excitement was sky-high over the first visit by a bona fide World Cup favorite to America’s second city.
Spain ratcheted up the pressure gradually through the first half, creating a string of chances after the first hydration break.
Marc Cucurella thought he had scored from a Lamine Yamal corner, but Pau Cubarsi was judged to have encroached on Austria’s goalkeeper.
Alexander Schlager then made a superb diving save, pushing Oyarzabal’s low shot around the post.
Austria’s defense finally buckled in the 36th minute. Pedri pinged a ball wide left to Cucurella, whose cross to Oyarzabal was calmly side-footed past the ‘keeper.
Spain’s dominance grew further, with Yamal tormenting the Austrians, mainly from the right flank.
An Alex Baena free kick hit the crossbar, and Yamal’s close-range follow-up shot was well saved.
Austria spurned a rare chance at the other end. Romano Schmid played in a late-arriving and unmarked Stefan Posch, but a terrible first touch meant he lost the ball before even attempting a shot.
‘Ole’
After the break Spain continued knocking on the door without quite putting the game to rest.
Austria sent on two giant strikers — Sasa Kalajdzic and Marko Arnautovic — and immediately went long, with Kalajdzic putting a header over the bar.
But in the 66th minute, Spain struck again. Baena lifted a cross onto the head of Pedro Porro, who nodded in his first goal for Spain.
Some dogged defending kept the scoreline respectable, including a goalline clearance by David Alaba from Yamal, who was substituted off to rest moments later.
Spain sprayed passes around the pitch as the final minutes ticked down, eliciting “Oles” from the crowd, as attention turned to a sterner test on Monday in Dallas.
In the 89th minute, a pinpoint Cucurella cross found a completely unmarked Oyarzabal in the penalty area, who slotted the ball home.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Ex-Arsenal striker, Ian Wright, has named the only team that can stop France from winning the 2026 World Cup.
Les Bleus qualified for the last 16, thanks to a 3-0 hammering of Sweden, with captain Kylian Mbappe scoring twice.
Mbappe is leading the race for the Golden Boot with six goals and two assists.
France will take on Paraguay in the next round, as they seek to play in their third consecutive World Cup final.
Didier Deschamps lost the 2022 tournament to Argentina on penalties and Wright has claimed only Lionel Messi and co can stop them again.
“It’s going to take something [to beat France],” Wright said.
“It’s going to take an Argentina because of the warrior nature of Argentina.”
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