Sports
Lagos Tops Primary Schools Meet
Lagos on Thursday topped the maiden edition of the University Press Plc-sponsored National Primary School Athletics Championships tagged “Schoolympics’’ held at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan.
The Tidesports source reports that Lagos beat 15 participating states with a total of nine gold, three silver and four bronze medals in the 14 events featured in the competition.
In addition to emerging winners, Lagos also produced the most outstanding female athlete, Ubong Edet, who won three gold medals.
Kaduna, the runners-up with four gold, three and one bronze medals, had the best
male athlete, Abdulrahman Lawal, who bagged two gold medals.
Two-gold medal female winner, Adama Alabama, also came from Kaduna State.
Hosts Oyo, finished third with one gold and one bronze, while Imo came fourth with five silver and two bronze medals.
Ogun was fifth with two silver and six bronze medals, while Ekiti was sixth with one silver medal.
Edet, 14, a primary six pupil of African Church Primary School, Ifako-Ijaye, bagged her three gold in the 100m, 200m and 4X100m relay.
Lawal, 13, the best male athlete, who is a primary six pupil of Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) School, Railway Quarters, Kaduna, won the boys’ 800m, 1500m and a silver in the 400m.
Alabama, 12, a primary six pupil also from LGEA School, Kaduna, won the 800m and 1500m.
Jubrin Hassan, Sports Officer, Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), said the state was represented by eight athletes, two of whom were disqualified for being over-aged.
Hassan said all their medals came mostly from the middle and long distance events.
Ganiyu Adebayo, the University Press Plc Executive Director (Finance), expressed regret that no official from the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) or the National Sports Commission (NSC) was at the meet.
Adebayo said the absence of officials from both bodies would not deter the company from contributing its quota to sports development in the country.
He promised that the company would continue to sponsor the competition.
Raji Dimeji, President of the National Association of Primary Schools Games and Sports Teachers (NAPSGAST), organisers of the competition, described the competition as a huge success.
Dimeji said he was confident the success of the maiden edition would encourage more states to participate in subsequent events as well as attract more sponsors.
Pics 1: Fencing in action.
President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, Adeyinka Samuel, has said the country will host a unique 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships as the first sub-Saharan nation to stage the tournament, Tidesports source reports.
The championship will be held in Lagos from August 9 to 14, with the federation announcing that Rugby School Nigeria will host the event.
The Commonwealth Fencing Federation formally awarded the hosting rights for the 2026 championships to Nigeria in March 2025.
“It is the third international tournament the country will host, having also become the first to stage a junior épée World Cup, which was held in Lagos in December 2024. Nigeria also hosted the 23rd African Fencing Championships last year.
Nigeria’s hosting will be unique in several ways. First, it will be the inaugural edition on African soil, giving it historic significance. Second, we are integrating development initiatives such as an international training camp to foster technical exchange. Finally, the event will showcase African hospitality, culture, and energy, offering athletes a rich experience beyond the competition,” Samuel said on Wednesday.
“Preparations have advanced steadily across competition planning, venue readiness, logistics, athlete services, and partnerships.”
He also noted that over 24 Commonwealth nations have already registered.
“We are organising a pre-championship international training camp in Lagos to unite athletes ahead of the competition. Everything is moving in the right direction, and our focus is on delivering a world-class event that reflects Nigeria’s ability to host major international tournaments.”
The last two tournaments hosted by Nigeria were held at Charterhouse Lagos, and Samuel explained the choice of Rugby School Nigeria for this championship.
“The venue was selected for its modern, state-of-the-art facilities and its proximity to hospitality, tourism, and entertainment hubs. This ensures athletes and officials will enjoy excellent accommodation, transport, and leisure options during their stay.”
While thanking the private sector for its support in organising the championship, the president also called for greater government intervention in the fast-growing sport.
“The private sector has shown encouraging support, with institutions like Rugby School Nigeria and companies such as Flour Mills of Nigeria backing the championships. However, stronger government involvement is needed. Hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships is a milestone achievement, and we believe institutional support will help Nigeria maximise the opportunity and deliver a truly memorable event.”
The final draw was concluded at CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday and posted on the body’s website.
Notably, hosts Morocco will face a North African showdown in Group A, drawn alongside Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia.
Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, making Group A particularly competitive.
Group B features former champions Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon, alongside Uganda and debutants DR Congo.
In Group C, 2015 and 2017 champions and last year’s runners-up, Mali, will meet Angola, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
Group D is led by 2023 champions Senegal, who will face South Africa (2015 runners-up),
The eight quarter-finalists from the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
The teams finishing third in each group will contest two play-off matches to determine the final two qualifiers, bringing the total number of African representatives at the global finals to ten nations.
2026 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations – Groups:
- Group A: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia
- Group B: Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, DR Congo
- Group C: Mali, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique
- Group D: Senegal, South Africa, Algeria, Ghana
Tidesports source reports that Nigeria will not feature at the tournament for the second consecutive edition.
The Golden Eaglets suffered a 2-0 defeat to rivals Ghana in the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone B qualifiers in September 2025, dashing their hopes of advancing to the finals.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will begin their title defence at the 2026 Unity Cup with a semi-final clash against Zimbabwe on May 26 at The Valley in South London, Tidesports source reports.
The four-nation tournament, which also features Jamaica and India, returns to its historic venue after the success of the 2025 edition in Brentford, where Nigeria emerged champions.
The competition, scheduled to run from May 26 to 30, blends elite football with cultural celebration, bringing together Afrocentric and global diaspora communities.
Nigeria’s opening fixture against Zimbabwe serves as a rematch of their recent encounters in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, setting the stage for a highly competitive contest.
The winner will progress to the final on May 30, while the second semi-final between Jamaica and India will be played a day later.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, expressed confidence in the Super Eagles’ chances while acknowledging the quality of the opposition.
“The Nigeria Football Federation is pleased with another opportunity to see the Super Eagles compete at the highly exciting and entertaining Unity Cup Tournament,” Gusau said.
“As perennial champions, the Super Eagles will look to retain their title again this summer, even as they will not underrate the other participating teams viz India, Jamaica and Zimbabwe. The tournament promises to be explosive and that is the setting in which the Super Eagles thrive best.”
The Unity Cup will culminate in a finals day featuring both the third-place play-off and the final, alongside a festival atmosphere that includes cultural showcases, food exhibitions, and live performances.
Zimbabwe Football Association president Nqobile Magwizi described his nation’s participation as a landmark moment, highlighting the opportunity to compete on an international stage in England for the first time.
“The Unity Cup represents far more than a celebration of football and culture, it is a powerful platform that reflects Zimbabwe football’s growing ambition to compete, perform, and excel on the global stage,” Magwizi said.
With Nigeria seeking to retain their crown and rivals eager to make their mark, the opening clash against Zimbabwe is expected to set the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested and culturally vibrant tournament.
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