Sports
NSF: Lagos, Rivers, Edo Dominate Zonal Elimination Qualifiers
Participating states in different ball games at the upcoming 2022 National Sports Festival in Delta State have been confirmed by the Main Organising Committee.
The games are basketball, football, volleyball, handball, hockey, beach volleyball and baseball/softball.
In the Southwest zone, Lagos State dominated the qualifiers in all the seven ball games, qualifying for both male and female categories, except in beach volleyball, where they fell short in the men’s category.
Oyo and Ogun states followed up to fill up the remaining spaces, leaving just the female basketball slot for Ondo, while Osun picked one of the slots in male beach volleyball.
Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Edo states will continue their rivalries at the festival in Delta State, having jostled for all the available slots in the South South zone among themselves.
Imo and Anambra dominated the Southeast qualifiers in six games, as all the states did not present any team for baseball and softball.
FCT, Plateau and Nasarawa States are the forces to reckon with in North Central, just as Borno, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi and Yobe States shared honours in six games and left out baseball/softball.
Kano, Kaduna and Katsina States dominated the affairs in the Northwest, leaving just a slot each for Kebbi and Zamfara States.
Notably, only Kaduna entered for baseball/softball, as they will present their female team.
Among the seven ball games, basketball has the highest number of participating states with 18, followed by handball and hockey with 17 each.
Beach volleyball has 16 states, volleyball and football with 15 states each while baseball/softball will only have five states competing for the medals.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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