By Nsikakabasi Akpan

Since arriving in Edo State on February 19, 2026, I have been closely following the 2nd Niger Delta Games. Before coming, I wondered how the organisers, Dunamis-Icon Limited, sponsored by The Niger Delta Commission, would manage to maintain the high standard set at the maiden edition in Akwa Ibom.

I must admit, I feared that the flashes of brilliance we witnessed in Akwa Ibom, the transparency, the excellent officiating, the accurate medal computations, the welfare of athletes, and the prompt release of medal tables, might have been just a one-off. From my experience, I knew the challenge ahead for the organisers was not small.

As the 2nd Niger Delta Games draws to a close in Edo State today, I can confidently say that the organisers have not only met expectations, they have taught us important lessons.

First, they have shown that it is possible to treat athletes well. From the warmth and convenience provided to states to transport their athletes, to the comfortable accommodations and support throughout the competitions, the organisers demonstrated that athlete welfare is a priority.

Second, they have proved that it is possible to bring together officials and ensure competitions are conducted with fairness and integrity. Watching referees and judges officiate without bias and without undermining other competitions was truly exemplary.

Third, they have shown that medal computation can be done correctly and transparently. Every medal table was accurate, with winners’ names listed correctly, and updates were released on time. This level of organisation sets a standard for sports administration across the country.

As we approach the closing ceremony at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Edo State lead the medal standing with 102 medals (50 Gold, 30 Silver and 22 Bronze), with Delta State in second place with 91 medals (34 Gold, 26 Silver, 31 Bronze). 1st edition winners Bayelsa State occupy third place with 66 medals (23 Gold, 20 Silver and 23 Bronze). Akwa Ibom complete the top four with 47 medals  (12 Gold, 15 Silver and 20 Bronze).

As we wind down in Benin City, I can only applaud the organisers and their sponsors for a job well done. More importantly, I hope this standard is maintained for future editions. The Niger Delta Games have proven that with proper planning, transparency, and care for athletes, regional sports competitions can reach new heights, and we all stand to benefit from it.

Let this standard continue. We want it to continue.

Conor Benn’s former promoter, Eddie Hearn, has weighed in on his recently announced fight against Regis Prograis.

Benn made headlines last week when he announced a move away from Hearn’s Matchroom to sign a one-fight, mega-money deal with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

He had been regarded as a lifelong Matchroom fighter due to his close relationship with Hearn, who staunchly defended the 29-year-old after two failed doping tests left his reputation in tatters.

Pair that with the fact Hearn has openly recognised White as a serious rival in the sport, some feel that the way Benn handled the move was unfair. Having said that, others recognise that the reported $15M purse for this one bout was reason enough.

Following some speculation, it was announced today that Benn will take up the co-main event spot on the Tyson Fury versus Arslanbek Makhmudov card at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11, streamed live on Netflix.

In the opposite corner will be two-time super-lightweight world champion, Prograis, who is coming off a points win against Jojo Diaz last August. The 37-year-old former two-time world champion from New Orleans has lost to Josh Taylor, Devin Haney and Jack Catterall, and operates naturally at 140lbs.

Speaking to Boxing King Media, Hearn asked what weight the fight would take place at, considering Benn fought Chris Eubank Jr twice at 160 and has said he will now drop back down to 147. He said 150lbs – the agreed catchweight – suits his ex charge.

“150? It’s good for Conor to try and bring himself down [from 160].”

The British promoter – who says he is happy for Benn to receive ‘life-changing’ money for a fight at this level – sees nothing but a Benn win.

“I like Regis. You saw in the Jojo Diaz fight he’s not the fighter that he once was. He’s still a decent fighter, but Conor should be much too fresh.

“It was never a fight that we were looking at because I was trying to deliver him a world championship fight. But, as a treading water fight, if you like… It’s going to be weird to see him on an undercard, but I don’t think he’ll be that bothered when he gets paid.”

Finally, discussing the purse, Hearn highlighted perhaps a rising issue for Zuffa Boxing and TKO – namely what UFC fighters think of the inflated purses compared to their own financial reward.

“Let’s just see what the UFC fighters have got to say … It’s an interesting one. It’s a problem for them.”

Benn is currently WBC number one challenger at welterweight, and has made it clear he will target a fight against new champion Ryan Garcia later in the year. Whether it happens, and indeed under which promotional banner, remains to be seen.

The San Antonio Spurs won their 11th consecutive game on Thursday with a 126-110 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. With their next game scheduled for Sunday, the Spurs finished the month of February undefeated. San Antonio’s last defeat was on Jan. 31, a 111-106 loss to the Charlotte Hornets.

The 11-game winning streak is the third-longest in the NBA this season, following the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 16 straight wins and the Detroit Pistons’ 13 consecutive wins. The run is also the second-longest streak in Spurs history after winning 13 straight during the 2015-16 season.

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Coupled with the Thunder’s loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, the Spurs are now only 1.5 games back from the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. The two teams don’t play each other again for the remainder of the regular season. San Antonio has 23 games left, while Oklahoma City has 22.

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Julian Champagnie led the Spurs with 26 points (shooting 6-of-9 on 3-pointers), 3 steals and 2 blocks. Stephon Castle followed with 18 points, making 10-of-12 free throws. Devin Vassell scored 14 points, hitting 4-of-7 3s, with 7 rebounds and 5 assists. And Victor Wembanyama finished with 12 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks as San Antonio improved to 43-16.

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Champagnie said “it means everything” to return to New York, where he played college basketball at St. John’s and grew up on Staten Island, and have a great game in front of hometown fans. He told the Spurs TV broadcast team that he had to buy 17 tickets for family and friends.

San Antonio ran out to a 36-22 lead in the first quarter, led by 13 points from Castle. Brooklyn opened the third quarter with a 13-4 run that cut its deficit to 75-69 with 8:34 remaining in the frame. But the Spurs closed out the quarter by outscoring the Nets 29-15.

“It feels like the players are finding different ways to win,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said after the game, via the San Antonio Express News. “That’s a sign of growth.”

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Brooklyn was led by Michael Porter Jr.’s 25 points and 14 rebounds, while Danny Wolf and Day’Ron Sharpe each contributed 14 points off the bench. With the loss, the Nets dropped to 15-43, the second-worst record in the East and third-worst in the NBA.

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The 11-0 February was the third undefeated month in Spurs history and first since a 16-0 March during the 2013-14 season.

The Spurs next face the Knicks at Madison Square Garden for a nationally televised Sunday matinee at 1 p.m ET. By then, they could be within a game of the Thunder, who host the Denver Nuggets on Friday.

Team Edo have emerged overall winners of the second edition of the Niger Delta Games after a brilliant performance on home soil in Benin City, ending a 24-year wait for regional glory.

The hosts secured first place after a tight medal contest that lasted until the final day. Edo finished with 52 gold, 34 silver and 25 bronze medals, making a total of 111 medals. They pulled ahead of strong rivals Delta and Bayelsa to seal a famous victory in front of their supporters.

Delta State finished second with 39 gold, 29 silver and 34 bronze medals, recording 102 medals in total. Defending champions Bayelsa placed third with 25 gold, 24 silver and 26 bronze medals.

Akwa Ibom came fourth with 16 gold medals and a total of 55 medals. Abia finished fifth with 45 medals, while Cross River placed sixth with 38. Ondo ended in seventh position with 34 medals. Rivers finished eighth with 44 medals but fewer gold medals, while Imo completed the table in ninth place with 31 medals.

Reacting to the achievement, Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Amadin Desmond Enabulele, described the triumph as a major milestone for sports in the state. He dedicated the success to Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa.

Enabulele said the victory was made possible by strong leadership, careful planning and steady investment in sports development. He noted that improved athlete welfare, quality coaching and better training facilities helped the team to perform at their best.

He added that ending the 24-year wait was the result of hard work, discipline and determination shown by Edo athletes throughout the competition. According to him, the government’s commitment to youth development through sports has now produced clear results.

The chairman also praised the athletes, coaches and officials for their unity and professionalism during the week-long event, saying their performance shows that Edo has returned to the top level of regional sports.

More than 3,000 athletes from nine states took part in 17 sports at the Games, which were sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission. The competition received praise for its good organisation and high level of performance.

With this victory, Team Edo have not only reclaimed regional pride but also set a new standard for excellence in Niger Delta sports.

Oregon State men’s basketball coach Wayne Tinkle will not return after the 2025-26 season, the school announced Thursday. Tinkle has the option to finish the campaign before departing from his post, but has not yet decided whether to see the season out, according to John Canzano. The Beavers are 16-14 this season and 9-8 in West Coast Conference play.

Tinkle’s exit comes after a 12-year run with the Beavers that featured some of the program’s highest highs and lowest lows. It also coincides with Oregon State’s move from the WCC back into the Pac-12, which debuts as a reconstructed conference beginning next season.

Oregon State never finished higher than fourth in the Pac-12 during Tinkle’s decade in the conference and concluded its first year in the WCC with a fifth-place finish. Tinkle has a 175-204 overall record for his tenure, with an 82-141 mark in conference games

“We are grateful to Wayne for his dedication to Oregon State and for the leadership he has provided our men’s basketball program,” athletic director Scott Barnes said in a statement. “He has represented Beaver Nation with integrity and commitment. As we approach the dawn of the new Pac-12 era, we believe it is in the best interest of our men’s basketball program to transition to its next chapter. These decisions are never easy, but we are focused on positioning our program for sustained success in a rapidly evolving collegiate athletics landscape.”

The Tinkle era at Oregon State will be most remembered for the program’s miraculous run to the 2021 Elite Eight. The Beavers entered the NCAA Tournament that season as a No. 12 seed and pulled off upsets of No. 5 Tennessee, No. 4 Oklahoma State and No. 8 Loyola Chicago before falling to No. 2 Houston. It was one of two NCAA Tournament appearances for the Beavers during Tinkle’s 12 years at the helm.

While the Beavers reached the postseason three times, including a trip to the College Basketball Crown last season, they also logged two of the worst seasons in program history under Tinkle’s leadership. The year directly following the Elite Eight run, Oregon State went 3-28 and posted the worst winning percentage (.097) of any Beavers squad in 125 years. Tinkle also oversaw a 5-27 team in 2016-17.

Oregon State making changes ahead of Pac-12 relaunch

When the Pac-12 returns as a full conference this summer, Oregon State will be under new leadership in both football and men’s basketball. The Beavers fired football coach Trent Bray midway through the 2025 season and hired Alabama co-offensive coordinator JaMarcus Shephard as his replacement.

The overhaul is part of the Beavers’ efforts to establish themselves as top-tier contenders in the new-look league. Oregon State was long a bottom-half athletic department in the old Pac-12, but it enters the conference’s new era as a potential leader across the board given its status as a recent Power Five member.

2026 Pac-12 football schedule: ‘Flex week’ provides unique advantage in College Football Playoff race

Carter Bahns

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The Pac-12 has the opportunity to thrive as a top-six basketball conference with the addition of Gonzaga as a basketball-only member, as well as prominent former Mountain West schools. For the 2026-27 basketball season, the Pac-12 will operate as a nine-member league featuring Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Oregon State, San Diego State, Texas State, Utah State and Washington State.

It also projects as a potential Group of Six leader in football and could see its champion clinch a spot in the College Football Playoff on a regular basis.

La Liga chief Javier Tebas has criticised the Premier League over its handling of Manchester City’s 115 charges case and warned new financial rules will cause transfer market inflation

La Liga president Javier Tebas has launched a scathing two-pronged attack on the Premier League, including their handling of Manchester City’s 115 charges case. Tebas branded it a “failure” that Manchester City‘s case remains unresolved more than three years after the club were charged with 115 alleged rule breaches.

Tebas also cautioned that the Premier League’s revised financial regulations will trigger significant transfer and wage inflation throughout Europe. This came as Premier League chief executive Richard Masters once again dodged the City question, stating: “I can’t talk about it and talk about the timing of it. Having spent three years not talking about it, I’m not going to stop now obviously.”

Tebas, however, pulled no punches over the Premier League’s timeline of the City case, particularly given that Everton, Nottingham Forest, and, most recently, Leicester City, were dealt with swiftly and handed points deductions.

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Tebas said: “It’s a failure of Premier League governance. Other clubs are looking at and watching this and seeing what’s going on. They are being fined and having points deductions and that’s fine, if you don’t abide by the rules

“But City appear to have impunity. I speak to a lot of English clubs and the majority of them don’t understand this either. “It makes the institution of the Premier League weaker.”

The tribunal examining City’s alleged 115 violations of Premier League financial regulations was wrapped up in December 2024, yet the independent commission continues to deliberate over its verdict. Tebas, speaking at the FT Live’s Business of Football Summit, also launched a scathing attack on the Premier League’s financial regulations and spending rules.

Top-flight clubs voted to replace the existing Profitability and Sustainability Rule with a new Squad Cost Ratios system from next season. Clubs will be permitted to allocate up to 85 per cent of their seasonal revenues on wages and transfers, with the option to stretch this to 115 per cent, provided they balance their books within three years.

Tebas said: “In Spain, we have special and strict rules on Financial Fair Play, FFP is what everyone has to apply at home. You can’t spend more than our revenues.

“But then new regulations here will cause more inflation and more problems. If you allow clubs to spend 85 per cent of revenues but aren’t taking into account expenses, no fair play rules are of any use at all.

“English football has got the highest turnover, revenues double the amount of Spanish League or Bundesliga. Clubs have twice the capacity to invest of any other league.

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“We cannot compete financially, We can sign better players and have better coaches but they have these enormous capital contributions from the owners.

“What will happen to the market? It’s not rocket science. The English system of 85 per cent SCR plus transfers, which means clubs can go to 115 per cent of revenues, that will cause inflation, I’m sure about that.

“I don’t know where they get these figures from. I’m really surprised. We should harmonise FFP in Europe, that’s the way forward.”

Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package

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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.

Conditions dictated by Sydney’s forecast will shape whether Ceolwulf stands a chance of upstaging champion mare Autumn Glow in the Verry Elleegant Stakes at Randwick, per trainer Joseph Pride.

Solidly backed at $1.30 to claim a 10th successive win Saturday, Autumn Glow’s favouritism is endorsed by Pride.

Pride qualifies his view by noting potential from heavy predicted rain, granting Ceolwulf upset potential on a substantially rain-affected surface.

“I’m not even thinking about winning chances because honestly, if that mare shows up with what she did the other day, you’re probably not going to beat her at this stage of the preparation for us, with no blinkers and so early on,” Pride said.

“His best chance of running really well would be if the track is wet, so I’ve got my eye on that.

“That’s probably what punters want to hear from me, ‘is there a chance your horse could win? Well yes, but it would have to be wet, I would think’.”

Running at Randwick provides Pride with solace for Ceolwulf.

An absence marked last year’s Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) due to misfortune, while a fortnight ago post-Apollo Stakes (1400m) nostril blood raised ban fears of three months.

Post-race scoping disproved internal issues, pinpointing a nose vessel break for Ceolwulf.

Approval came from stewards for continuation, Pride affirming seamless training.

“As soon as I scoped him, I felt like he was entitled to be here, but going back to two weeks ago when I saw him post-race, it is a massive relief,” Pride said.

“He didn’t miss a walk. He missed nothing.”

Holder of three Group 1 Randwick mile successes, Ceolwulf thrives later in preps, so Pride eyes strong contention Saturday.

“Hopefully the first four or five and I’ll be happy. That will be box ticked going forward and I’ll know that he is on track. But I’m very happy with him.”

Rain would suit Liverpool City Cup (1300m) entrants Coal Crusher and Cool Jakey from Pride’s barn, both rain lovers, with Gatsby’s primed for the finale.

“I’m very happy with that horse,” he said of Gatsby’s.

“He’s had a real change in his attitude and he’s going well. He has put in three good, honest runs for me, and he’ll go really well on Saturday.”

Discover racing betting markets ahead of the Verry Elleegant Stakes.

One of AEW’s top stars and champions, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, was scheduled to appear at a Canadian independent show. However, The Wolf of Wrestling has seemingly been withdrawn from the event, and the company hosting it has issued a statement on the matter.

MJF has had a target on his back ever since he reclaimed the All Elite Wrestling Men’s World Championship last year at Worlds End. He mounted his first successful defense of the belt in the company against Bandido at Dynamite: Maximum Carnage last month. Although he suffered an upset loss to Brody King in an Eliminator earlier in February, he retained the belt against the former Hounds of Hell member at AEW Grand Slam Australia 2026.

Friedman has also put his “Triple B” on the line on the independent circuit, successfully defending it against Alec Price at Limitless Rumble 2026, and against Zilla Fatu at HOG No Turning Back a week ago. The self-proclaimed generational talent was scheduled to appear at Mystery Wrestling 23, a show organized by Canadian promotion Mystery Wrestling set for March 26 at the Midway Music Hall in Edmonton. The company has now announced on Instagram, however, that Friedman will not be able to show up at the event due to a scheduling issue.

“Due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict, MJF will no longer be appearing at Mystery Wrestling 23 on Thursday, March 26 at Midway Music Hall in Edmonton. Any fans interested in a refund may redeem them from their original point of purchase. We apologize for any inconvenience.” – said the announcement.

MJF will also be defending his strap on AEW’s upcoming pay-per-view next month.

Stipulation for MJF’s Revolution 2026 AEW title defense has been set

This week on Wednesday Night Dynamite, MJF and Adam Page met face to face to decide on the stipulation for their AEW Men’s World Title match at Revolution 2026. While The Cowboy opted for his signature match type, Texas Death, Friedman selected a one-sided No Disqualification stip which would allow him to use no-DQ privileges against his opponent, but not the other way around.

A coin toss was held to settle which stipulation would be made official for the pay-per-view, and MJF seemingly won said toss. However, when Page demanded that the coin be examined to rule out unfair tactics, it was revealed to be a double-sided one. Friedman was penalized by Tony Khan for this attempted deception, as it was then decided that his Revolution bout against The Hangman will be a Texas Death Match.

Notably, if The Devil manages to beat Page next month, the so-called “Main Character” of AEW will never challenge for the World Title again, as per his own words.