National Sports Festival Archives

22nd National Sports Festival: Flamingos Reach Final as Golden Eaglets Lose to Team Ogun

Fola Badmus4 months ago4 months ago42 mins

The Golden Eaglets will contest for the bronze medals of the male football event of the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival, after they lost 1-2 to Team Ogun in the second semi finals of the event in Ikenne-Remo on Sunday. In the first semi final, Team Kwara defeated Team Kaduna by a lone goal to qualify for the final of the male football event, which will be held on Tuesday at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex. In the female event, Nigeria’s U17 boys, Flamingos flew their way into the final after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Team Ogun. Shakirat Moshood made no mistake from six yards after the 2022 FIFA World Cup bronze medallists were awarded a penalty with minutes left in the encounter. They will now face Team Delta in Tuesday’s grand finale, after the latter dismissed Team Osun 4-1 in the first semi final. The third-place matches will take place at the Remo Stars Stadium, while the final of the male and female events will hold at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta. The Golden Eaglets and Flamingos are participating in the 22nd National Sports Festival as part of the praiseworthy Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) initiative of the National Sports Commission.

22nd National Sports Festival: Golden Eaglets Zoom into Semi Finals

Fola Badmus4 months ago4 months ago02 mins

Five-time world champions Golden Eaglets have zoomed into the semi finals of the football event of the 22nd National Sports Festival ongoing in Ogun State. Abdulmuiz Adeleke, who netted the first goal in the 2-1 win over Edo State on Monday, came up big with a brace against Ebonyi State in Friday morning’s quarter-final encounter, which the Eaglets won 5-0 to sail into the last four. Mohammed Imrana, scorer of the second goal against Edo State, was also among the goals, though he was unlucky to bag a red card in the closing minutes of the encounter. Destiny Samuel and Emmanuel Ochigbo were the other scorers. On Thursday, the Flamingos drew 0-0 with Lagos State. They lead their group B with five points, ahead of Friday evening’s final group stage clash with Enugu State, who are pointless. Delta and Lagos State are fast on the Flamingos’ heels with four points each. Osun State leads the four-team group A with seven points, with Ogun and Edo States on five and four points respectively.

Gateway Games 2024: Table Tennis Medal Hunt Begins in Abeokuta

Fola Badmus4 months ago4 months ago34 mins

The quest for table tennis glory at the 22nd National Sports Festival, dubbed Gateway Games 2024, begins on Saturday, May 24, at the Alake Sports Centre in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. As one of the headline events of Nigeria’s own Olympic-style festival, table tennis has attracted a significant turnout of teams from across the country. Notably, foreign-based stars such as Olajide Omotayo, Azeez Solanke, and Taiwo Matti will represent Bayelsa State, bringing international flair and experience to the competition. Lagos State enters the fray with national champion Matthew Kuti and Muiz Adegoke leading the charge, while other strong contenders from Kwara, Ondo, Oyo, and Delta States are poised to make their mark. According to an official from the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), the event’s start was slightly delayed to accommodate the conclusion of the badminton tournament, which shares the same venue. “We’re expecting a more competitive tournament this year, with increased participation from teams that haven’t featured in recent editions. Some players are coming straight from the ITTF World Championships in Doha, so fans should brace for fireworks in the team, doubles, and singles categories,” the official stated. Omotayo, currently Nigeria’s second-highest-ranked player globally, will face fierce opposition from top home-based talents like Kuti, Adegoke, and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai. Kuti, one of the most consistent performers on the national circuit, is seeking his first National Sports Festival title after a string of recent tournament successes. Abdulfatai, fresh off a national tournament victory in Osun State, is also a strong contender in both singles and doubles. Oyo State, guided by Coach Dotun Omoniyi, is not to be underestimated. The team features seasoned campaigners like Akinwale Fagbamila and Joshua Olaniran, who bring experience and grit to the Sunshine State’s campaign. In the para table tennis event, the spotlight will be on hometown hero and Paris Paralympics bronze medalist Isau Ogunkunle, who will be looking to assert his dominance in the Men’s Class 4 singles event. Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games medalist Faith Obazuaye will spearhead the Edo State contingent in the women’s para category. From May 24 to 28, the Alake Sports Centre will be the epicenter of thrilling table tennis action, as the festival promises to showcase new talents and deliver high-octane matches at this year’s multi-sport extravaganza.

Kicking Toward the Future: Taekwondo’s Rise at the National Sports Festival

Fola Badmus4 months ago4 months ago05 mins

The Vice President of the Taekwondo Federation of Nigeria, Ms. Tayo Popoola, has expressed great enthusiasm over the growing impact of Taekwondo at the recently concluded National Sports Festival (NSF). Speaking on the sidelines of the event, she outlined how the festival is helping uncover new talent, unite communities, and project the sport onto the global stage. Describing Taekwondo as both a combat sport and a discipline, Ms. Popoola underscored its importance in youth development. “Our vision is for Taekwondo to be in every home. It brings discipline and gives people self-confidence,” she said. According to her, the sport is helping young Nigerians find purpose and build resilience. She emphasized that the NSF has provided a platform to not only identify promising athletes but also promote social cohesion. “We’ve discovered champions. We’ve seen that our youth can be engaged positively, and that this country can become a better place.” The inclusive atmosphere of the festival stood out to Ms. Popoola, who praised its ability to bring together people from different backgrounds. “People can come together no matter who you are—your religion, tribe, or background—and these are the values we want to showcase to the public.” This year’s festival was particularly significant for Taekwondo, as it featured equipment that matches international standards. “This is one of the best festivals for Taekwondo. We are now using the same equipment as other parts of the world, giving our athletes international-level exposure.” A key highlight of the festival was the IJA initiative, where young talents were matched against experienced athletes, fostering learning and growth. “Tired legs are stepping aside and new talents are emerging. The IJA initiative is helping us identify and nurture these future champions.” Ms. Popoola believes that these athletes can be nurtured to compete in the Youth Olympics and eventually represent Nigeria at the Olympic Games. She also called on the National Sports Commission (NSC) to build on the festival’s success, pointing to the capable leadership within the commission. “The NSC has people who understand what it takes to bring athletes together and develop new talents,” she noted.“With a Chairman and Director-General who understand the game, sports in Nigeria will reach levels that will make us all proud.” Beyond her work in Taekwondo, Ms. Popoola is also the brain behind the Lagos Women Run, a unique fitness event that promotes health and inclusion. “We are prepared. It’s a competition for women, but even men take part in the spirit of fitness.” This year’s edition of the Lagos Women Run will be held on November 8, 2025, and preparations are already in full swing. Ms. Popoola’s passion for sports development and youth empowerment remains clear. Through her efforts in Taekwondo and initiatives like the Lagos Women Run, she continues to drive a vision where sport becomes a unifying force and a springboard for excellence in Nigeria.