About 10,000 runners from Nigeria, other West African countries and East Africa are expected to converge on Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, for an international half-marathon covering a distance of 21 kilometres.

The organisers said the event, scheduled for November 14, 2026, marks a new phase for the marathon after a decade of hosting participants mainly from within Nigeria.

Speaking at a media briefing on Monday to officially announce the date, the Convener of the Port Harcourt International Marathon, Goodluck Azunwena, said the 2026 edition is more than a race, showcasing culture, tourism and healthy living through sports under the theme, “Green Race.”

Azunwena said, “As we celebrate a decade of purpose, we are proud to officially reopen this chapter of our journey, driven by renewed energy and an even bigger vision, beginning with the Port Harcourt International Marathon taking place on November 14.

“A world-class event that represents far more than a race. It is a platform for unity, tourism, economic growth, healthy living, youth empowerment and global visibility. Through it, we invite the world to experience the true spirit of Port Harcourt.”

He said the organisers had already secured the support of the Rivers State Government and some private partners while remaining open to additional sponsorship.

On the expected number of participants, Azunwena said previous editions attracted about 5,000 registered runners, but participation had now been expanded following increased interest from within and outside Nigeria.

“For this edition, our projection is to have at least 10,000 runners register for the race. Everything in terms of security has been put in place to ensure a hitch-free event,” he said.

In her remarks, an official of the marathon, Diri Dikibujuri, said the 10th edition had been tagged “Port Harcourt to the World.”

She said, “As we celebrate the decade of the ‘Green Race’, we are transitioning from what we used to know as the Port Harcourt City Marathon to the Port Harcourt International Marathon. We are proud to announce this year that we are welcoming runners from across Nigeria and other West African countries and East Africa.”

She explained that the theme, “Green Race,” was chosen to reflect the marathon’s renewed vision. “We all know green means life, renewal and growth. In this case, green signifies Port Harcourt as the Garden City. The word ‘race’ goes beyond athletics or sports. It signifies humanity running towards a better life, impact and sustainability,” Dikibujuri said.

She continued, “Together, Green Race is about taking Port Harcourt to the world by building an initiative that delivers multidimensional impact.

“We are bringing together sports, culture, sustainability, education, empowerment, environmental advocacy and youth development under one umbrella. We have activities before the race, on race day and after the race, all aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 3, 11 and 13 because it is an international race.

“We are engaging the entire Port Harcourt community in moving towards a greener city. In the end, we are not just taking Port Harcourt to the world; we are bringing the garden back to the city.”

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Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured that the state is ready to host this year’s CAF Awards after a five-man team from the Confederation of African Football inspected the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, popularly known as the National Theatre, the designated venue for the ceremony, The PUNCH reports.

The CAF team arrived in Nigeria last Thursday for an inspection of facilities being put forward by the country to host the organisation’s 48th Ordinary General Assembly and annual CAF Awards ceremony.

The team is led by former NFF presidential aspirant and CAF’s Head of Safety and Security, Dr Christian Emeruwa. The delegation also includes Mohammed Bakeer (Technology), Inas Ahmed (Travel and Accommodation), Salah Mostafa (Transport) and Hervé Dassoundo (Branding).

They were received by officials of the Lagos State Sports Commission, led by Director-General Lekan Fatodu, as they inspected the National Theatre on Monday.

Sanwo-Olu said the state was committed to ensuring that Lagos delivers a successful event.

“We guided them through the venue and gathered their feedback. Hosting an event of this scale means every single detail counts and our team is working hard behind the scenes to make sure we get it right,” the governor said in an X post on Monday.

“Lagos is ready and we look forward to putting on a brilliant show for African football.”

Nigeria has previously hosted the CAF Awards on four occasions, with Lagos staging the most recent edition in January 2015.

While Abuja will host the CAF General Assembly on November 21, 2026, Lagos will take centre stage for the ceremony honouring the best players and other outstanding performers in African football.

The CAF delegation had earlier inspected facilities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Friday before visiting the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, the designated venue for the Congress, and the Transcorp Hilton Hotel on Saturday.

The CAF team is being accompanied on the inspection tour by a five-man NFF delegation comprising Dr Ademola Olajire, Director of Media and Communications; Alizor Chuks, Director of Marketing; Barnabas Joro, Head of Security; Emmanuel Ayanbunmi, Chief Protocol Officer; and Tasiu Riskuwa Shehu, Head of ICT.

Two months ago, at the Africa Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, President Bola Tinubu approved Nigeria’s hosting of the two major CAF events following a request by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe.

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Thirty years after guiding Nigeria to its first and only Olympic football gold medal, former Dream Team coach Johannes “Bonfrère” Jo has expressed disappointment that the Nigerian government is yet to recognise or reward his role in one of the nation’s greatest sporting achievements, The PUNCH reports.

Bonfrère led a talented generation featuring Nwankwo Kanu, Austin Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, Taribo West, Celestine Babayaro, Garba Lawal and Emmanuel Amuneke to one of football’s greatest Olympic stories.

Nigeria defeated Brazil 4-3 after extra time in a memorable semi-final before coming from behind to beat Argentina 3-2 in the final at the Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, becoming the first African nation to win Olympic football gold.

While many members of the victorious squad received national honours, cash rewards and houses in the years that followed, Bonfrère believes his role has largely been forgotten.

The 80-year-old Dutchman also revealed that the Olympic gold medal he received after Nigeria’s historic triumph in Atlanta was stolen, alleging that it disappeared while in the custody of a team official. Bonfrère said the incident remained one of the most painful memories of his association with Nigerian football, lamenting that despite leading the Dream Team to Africa’s first-ever Olympic football gold, he not only missed out on government recognition but also lost the medal that symbolised the greatest achievement of his coaching career.

“They were claiming that everyone has received their rewards, but I have not received anything; they have never given me the reward for winning the gold medal,” he told The PUNCH.

“Even my gold medal was stolen from me, and I still didn’t get a reward from the government, which all the players have received, including players who were not on the list.”

The Dutch tactician, who masterminded Nigeria’s dramatic triumph at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, recounted how his gold medal was stolen from him.

“I don’t know how the medal was collected from me; I only know that when the players went upstairs, an official stopped me from going with them and the medal was gone.”

Bonfrère said his repeated efforts to seek recognition from the relevant authorities have yielded no results, revealing that he had reached out on several occasions but received little or no response.

The retired coach admitted he had not given up hope, saying he would be grateful if the government or the appropriate authorities finally acknowledged his contribution to Nigeria’s greatest Olympic football achievement.

“I will be happy if something can be done because I have made several calls and sent messages but nobody was interested in helping me.”

Three decades on, memories of the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games remain vivid for Nigeria’s sporting community, with the historic outing still standing as Team Nigeria’s greatest-ever performance since the country made its Olympic debut in 1952. For the former Dream Team coach, however, the milestone evokes mixed emotions, serving as a painful reminder of what he says has been three decades without the recognition or reward he believes he deserves.

As celebrations continue to honour the players and officials who made history in Atlanta, Bonfrère hopes the milestone will also prompt a reflection on those whose contributions have gone unnoticed.

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