Sports
Coach Decries Neglect Of IBILE Games
A coach with the Lagos State Athletics Association (LSAA), Adegboyega Adenuga, last Thursday decried alleged neglect of the state’s annual sports festival tagged “IBILE Games’’.
Adenuga told newsmen in Lagos that the festival, held last in 2015, had slowed the pace of grassroots sports development in Lagos State.
Tidesports source reports that IBILE is an acronym for Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos and Epe.
The sports fiesta was introduced in 2011 by the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola to promote sports development.
“It is not good that a competition of that magnitude has been ignored; it is telling on athletes whom I happen to be one of their coaches.
“IBILE really helped most of our young athletes to find their feet on their careers; it is important to sustain the tempo.
“This is another year, our state government should consider bringing back IBILE,” he said.
The coach, who is also a board member of the Track and Field Coaches Association of Nigeria (TAFCAN), told newsmen that returning IBILE Games would also spur coaches to do more on their beats.
“We are not happy that our main annual festival is no longer here; we need encouragement.
“The Lagos State governor is doing a good job and still has a whole lot on the pipeline, but I pray he considers this IBILE,’’ he said.
He, however, noted that organising the game was a big project which required the support of corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals.
Adenuga called on individuals, groups and private and public organisations to identify with the festival to facilitate sports development.
“It requires a collective effort,’’ he said.
He described Lagos State as a pacesetter in sports development and urged it to adopt proactive measures to sustain the standards.
In a statement released by the league, the competition is scheduled to take place from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 14, 2026, with six clubs set to battle for the league title at the end of the 2025/26 season.
NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi, said the choice of Port Harcourt reflects the Rivers State Government’s continued support for women’s football and its successful hosting of the league’s Annual General Assembly last year.
The Super Six tournament will feature the top three teams from Group A and Group B of the regular season competing in a round-robin format, with each club playing five matches over nine days.
Qualified teams for the competition include defending champions Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, Rivers Angels, Robo Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, and debutants Abia Angels.
The NWFL Premiership has produced four different winners in the last five editions, with Rivers Angels winning in 2021, Bayelsa Queens claiming the title in 2022 and 2025, Delta Queens triumphing in 2023, and Edo Queens emerging champions in 2024.
The league also urged participating clubs to comply with all competition regulations and directives ahead of the championship. The Super Six will determine Nigeria’s representative for the WAFU-B qualifiers for a place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League and ultimately the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
Teams are expected to arrive on Friday, June 5, when the draw ceremony and pre-match meeting will also take place. Matchdays are scheduled for June 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, with rest days in between before the tournament concludes with the trophy presentation ceremony.
