Sports
The Real Padi: Aquafina’s 11-Year Run With Access Bank Lagos City Marathon
Since 2016, Seven-Up Bottling Company’s Aquafina Premium drinking water has shown up at the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon every single year. As the partnership enters its 11th edition, athletes, organisers, and fitness advocates reflect on what a decade of sustained support really means.
At 6:30 am on February 14, elite athletes, thousands of runners, including first-timers, formed thick streams at the starting line of the 11th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. They could be seen adjusting race bibs, stretching calves and taking photographs. Friends who had trained together for months since the announcement of the race were ready to run.
Interspersed among the title sponsor’s branding were the unmistakable blue and white colours of Aquafina. The brand was everywhere: at the start and finish lines, at hydration points every 2.5 kilometres, on volunteer vests, and in the hands of race marshals pressing chilled bottles into the palms of passing runners.
When the marathon first launched in 2016, organising a full 42-kilometre international race in Lagos was a major undertaking. As participation grew, including runners from across Africa, the need for reliable hydration planning became even more important. Aquafina’s continued involvement has aligned with that growth, helping organisers maintain a consistent hydration structure as the event expanded.
For the 2026 edition, Aquafina built its engagement around the 10KM race with the theme “Run am with your Padi,” a Nigerian Pidgin phrase that speaks to companionship. The message reflected how many participants approach the 10-kilometre category, running with friends, training partners, or social groups rather than competing professionally. The campaign appeared across outdoor and digital channels, reinforcing the social side of the race.
From a runner’s perspective, hydration was where Aquafina’s dominance on the course was most obvious. Harriet Wonder, a participant in the 2026 marathon, described her experience simply: “There was more than enough water and drink for everyone. At intervals, there was always water, like if you wanted to drink 100 bottles of water, you’ll get it. Hydration was not a problem.” Her comment captures how Aquafina’s strong presence at the event translated into a race experience where runners rarely had to think about water availability.
Aquafina’s 2026 activation also introduced one of the event’s biggest talking points, a N1million reward for the first 10 padi groups to cross the finish line in the 10-kilometre fun run. Rather than focusing only on elite competitors, the incentive placed attention on everyday runners, who make up the largest share of participants.
That decision also added excitement to the community category. For many runners, the fun run is about personal fitness goals or showing up with friends. Adding a significant reward recognised their contribution to the marathon’s energy and scale.
More than just a prize, the move reflected Aquafina’s awareness of the growing fitness culture around the event. It placed value on grassroots participation, the runners who return each year and help shape the marathon atmosphere.
In sports sponsorship, longevity builds familiarity. After eleven consecutive years, Aquafina’s presence has become an expected part of the marathon experience for returning runners. Hydration stations are not just branded touchpoints; they are functional stops runners plan around as they move through the course.
Nigeria’s recreational running culture has expanded steadily since the marathon began, with more clubs and informal groups encouraging participation. Large events like the marathon reflect that growth, and consistent corporate support helps sustain the infrastructure required to host thousands of runners.
More than a decade into the partnership, Aquafina’s role is defined by consistency. By providing reliable hydration year after year, the brand has entrenched itself as the ‘Padi of Life’, becoming a race day essential for runners navigating one of Lagos’ largest sporting events.
By Dipo Olowookere
Igor Tudor has left his role as the Head Coach of Tottenham Hotspur after over a month he was appointed to rescue the English Football Club from its woes.
The Croatian was named the Manager of the London outfit on February 13, 2026, but after a run of poor results, the club, in a statement on Sunday, March 29, 2026, announced his departure with immediate effect.
His exit from the football club comes just a few days after the death of his father.
“We can confirm that it has been mutually agreed for Head Coach Igor Tudor to leave the club with immediate effect.
“Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci have also left their respective roles of Goalkeeping Coach and Physical Coach.
“We thank Igor, Tomislav and Riccardo for their efforts during the past six weeks, in which they worked tirelessly. We also acknowledge the bereavement that Igor has recently suffered and send our support to him and his family at this difficult time,” the club statement read.
The former Juventus manager was picked to replace Thomas Frank after failing to impress at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
He managed to pick a point in his first five games in charge of The Lilywhites in the Premier League and has left the club just a point above the relegation zone.
In the statement on Sunday night, Spurs promised to provide an update on the appointment of “a new Head Coach” in due course.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The secretary-general of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Mr Véron Mosengo-Omba, has resigned, adding to questions about the administration of the continent’s football.
Mr Mosengo-Omba said he was retiring, but his departure comes amid a crisis of confidence in the organisation’s leadership, with a growing fallout over the decision to strip Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and calls for an investigation into alleged corruption at African football’s governing body.
There has been a swell of recent criticism of his staying on as scribe, well past the organisation’s mandatory retirement age of 63.
“After over 30 years of an international professional career dedicated to promoting an ideal form of football that brings people together, educates, and creates opportunities for hope, I have decided to step down from my position as Secretary General of CAF to devote myself to more personal projects,” Mr Mosengo-Omba said in a statement.
“Now that I have been able to dispel the suspicions that some people have gone to great lengths to cast on me, I can retire with peace of mind and without constraint, leaving the CAF more prosperous than ever.
“I sincerely thank the CAF’s President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, my teams, and all those who, directly or indirectly, have enabled CAF and organised African football to make real and remarkable progress. Let us hope that the progress made will last and be sustained.”
The 66-year-old Congolese-born executive has faced a number of scandals while on the job, including being accused by some employees of creating a toxic atmosphere in the workplace, although an investigation after staff complaints cleared him of any wrongdoing.
CAF said on Sunday that its competitions director, Mr Samson Adamu, would take over as acting general secretary.
Mr Mosengo-Omba is reportedly expected to run for the post of president of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s football federation in elections in the coming months. He is also touted to be aiming for the CAF presidency if current helmsman, Mr Patrice Motsepe, fulfils a rumoured ambition of running for the South African presidency after the tenure of Mr Cyril Ramaphosa.
CAF has faced scrutiny over the years, the latest being around the Appeals board decision to strip Senegal of the AFCON title. Senegal’s government has called for an international investigation into the running of the organisation.
On Saturday, Senegal paraded the trophy before going on to beat Peru 2-0 in their World Cup warm-up game at the Stade de France in Paris.
The Liverpool vs Galatasaray match in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 turned into a real hype blowout that was actively discussed in Cameroon, where interest in top European games is always high. The game was extremely dynamic, with total domination from one side and a sharp turnaround during the tie. Most football fans and bettors use the modern Linebet app in Cameroon, especially those who follow matches live and track odds in real time. The app also provides full stats and analytics, plus plenty of bonuses.
UCL popularity in Cameroon, about the Round of 16
In Cameroon, the UEFA Champions League is a top-tier tournament that attracts maximum attention, especially at the playoff stage. The Round of 16 is no longer just football – it’s a real battle for qualification, where every mistake affects both the bet outcome and the final result.
Matches like Liverpool vs Galatasaray always generate strong interest due to the contrast in styles and high scoring potential.
Main reasons why these matches are popular in Cameroon:
- high tempo and a large number of shots on goal;
- constant movement in live lines and odds;
- opportunities to analyze totals, handicaps, and match outcomes during the game.
The Round of 16 often creates a shift in expectations. Even if the first leg ends with a minimal score, everything can flip in the second match. In this case, Liverpool showed exactly that scenario – a strong comeback with full control.
Match flow, key moments and players
From the first minutes, Liverpool applied maximum pressing and started dominating across all lines. The tempo was high right away, and a bet on an early goal was clear from the opening attacks. Already in the first half, the team created a lot of chances, but finishing was lacking – especially the penalty missed by Mohamed Salah.
Before halftime, the hosts still pushed through in terms of chances and opened the scoring – Dominik Szoboszlai scored after a set piece. At this stage, live odds on Liverpool to qualify started dropping sharply, but the intrigue was still there.
In the second half, Galatasaray completely collapsed. In a short stretch from the 51st to the 62nd minute, Liverpool scored three goals in a row – a classic blowout that killed the intrigue and removed any comeback chances.
Key stretch of the match:
- 51st minute – goal by Hugo Ekitike after a quick combination;
- 53rd minute – rebound goal by Ryan Gravenberch, total goes up;
- 62nd minute – goal by Mohamed Salah, final break in the line.
After that, the game shifted into control mode. Liverpool kept creating chances but without maximum pressure, while Galatasaray was basically out of the game.
Final result – 4:0 at Anfield and 4:1 on aggregate. A clean win for the favorite, fully covering the weak first leg.
Key players of the match:
- Mohamed Salah – goal plus constant pressure, very active in attack;
- Dominik Szoboszlai – crucial first goal and tempo control;
- Uğurcan Çakır – despite conceding four, made many important saves.
UCL betting with Linebet
After this match, Liverpool is seen as a team with strong attacking potential and the ability to hit overs even against solid defenses. For users in Cameroon, this is an important factor when analyzing upcoming games.
The team plays aggressive football with a focus on pressing and fast attacks, which directly impacts totals and live betting lines. There is a clear bias toward over outcomes and individual totals.
What bettors usually focus on when analyzing UCL matches via the Linebet app:
- over totals in matches with attacking teams;
- live bets after the first 15–20 minutes of pressure;
- player stats (shots, goals, assists).
The match against Galatasaray showed a classic scenario: if a team catches momentum, the betting line breaks completely. Liverpool remains a club that can suddenly increase the tempo and decide the outcome in a short period, which is especially important for live analytics and odds evaluation.
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