Sports
Ikechukwu, Obanisola Shine Bright as All Stars Mega Badminton Championship Concludes in Spectacular Fashion
Joel Ajayi
The curtain has fallen on Nigeria’s biggest badminton tournament, the All Stars Mega Championship, which ended in Abuja amidst a dazzling display of skill, excitement, and celebration. True to the vision of its organizers, the tournament captured the attention of players, coaches, administrators, and stakeholders alike, with Nigerians at home and abroad glued to their screens to witness every thrilling moment.
In a remarkable showcase of talent, Victor Ikechukwu and Obanisola Sofiat emerged victorious in the male and female singles categories, claiming the top cash prizes. Ikechukwu triumphed in a fiercely competitive men’s singles final, defeating Aliyu Shehu in straight sets, 21-19, 21-19, to pocket the tournament’s record-breaking prize of one million naira.
In the women’s singles final, Sofiat Obanisola stunned spectators by overcoming seasoned player Dorcas Adesokan 21-12,21-13. Despite Adesokan’s vast experience, Obanisola’s grit and determination secured her victory and the 700,000 naira prize, making her one of the stars of the tournament.
The championship, which kicked off on Wednesday, December 11th, saw participants stream into the venue, their hopes high. With 400 registered players participated in the competition which was intense, with unexpected upsets along the way. As some favorites bowed out, new stars emerged, proving the depth of talent in Nigerian badminton.
The doubles events delivered memorable performances. In the women’s doubles, Sofiat Obanisola and Zainab Alabi combined forces to defeat Deborah Ukeh and Ruth Ebere in a grueling three-set battle, 20-22, 21-9, 21-10. Meanwhile, in the men’s doubles, Aliyu Shehu teamed up with Ibrahim Ahmed Dewo to redeem himself after his singles final loss, defeating Idowu Segun and Joseph Abel in a nail-biting three-set encounter, 21-11, 18-21, 21-17.
The veterans’ categories added a touch of nostalgia and skillful artistry to the tournament. Joseph and Martha triumphed in the mixed veterans’ doubles, while Abubakar and Kolo clinched the 50+ men’s doubles title. In the 28-49 veterans’ doubles, Aminu and Anache showcased their mettle with a commanding 21-17, 21-15 victory over Uwaisu and Yahaya.
Speaking after the event, Salaudeen Abdulfatai, CEO of LMK Sport Kits Limited and Co-chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, expressed immense satisfaction with the tournament’s success.
“I am thrilled with how everything turned out. The level of badminton was exceptional, and we fulfilled our promise of delivering the cash prizes to participants. I’m particularly grateful for the support from Nigerians in the diaspora, which has helped bring smiles to the faces of the players and elevated the profile of the sport in the country.”
The Secretary General of the All Stars Badminton Club, Mohammed Auwal Bako, echoed these sentiments, marveling at the event’s success despite initial doubts.
“I am so proud we pulled this off. It shows that with determination, we can achieve great things. We’re already looking forward to the next edition, aiming to make it even bigger and better. I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us, both at home and abroad. I hope we’ve earned their continued trust and support for future events.
The All Stars Doubles event provided a fitting finale to the championship, with the pair of Gabriel and Idris defeating Emeka Alaezi and Shehu Njidda in an electrifying match.
The 2023 All Stars Mega Badminton Championship will undoubtedly be remembered as a landmark event, raising the bar for the sport in Nigeria and inspiring a new generation of players. With its successful conclusion, all eyes now turn to the next edition, promising even greater excitement and achievements.
Sports
Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney
Joel Ajayi
The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Jibril Seidu, has said the federation will continue to intensify its grassroots talent development drive through zonal competitions across the country.
Seidu stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the finals of the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship, where Plateau Vipers defeated Suleja Shooters 29-24 to emerge champions in the men’s category.
In the women’s final, Benue Queens of Makurdi defeated City Queens of Suleja to claim the title.
The eight-day tournament featured teams from across the North Central Zone, with Plateau Vipers of Jos, Confluence Stars of Lokoja, Unity Boys of Abuja, Suleja Shooters and Nasarawa Ambassadors of Lafia competing in the men’s category.
In the women’s category, Nuela Handball Academy of Ilorin, Inikpi Babes of Idah, Benue Queens of Makurdi and City Queens of Suleja competed for honours.
At the end of the competition, four teams — two male and two female — emerged as the North Central Zone’s representatives for the national Division One league.
According to Seidu, the tournament was organised as part of the federation’s deliberate strategy to take handball development back to the regions and discover talents that might otherwise remain unnoticed.
He said the HFN board, inaugurated on October 25, 2025, resolved that grassroots development was essential to creating a sustainable pipeline of players for national and international competitions.
“All the teams you have seen here are from the North Central Zone of the country, and every state is represented with an academy or state team,” he said.
Seidu explained that the new approach marked a departure from the previous system, where talent identification was largely centred on the federation’s major league competitions.
He said taking competitions to the regions would provide young players with greater opportunities to showcase their abilities while strengthening the foundation of handball across the country.
The HFN president also linked the grassroots initiative to Nigeria’s recent achievements in international handball, stressing the need to develop younger players who can eventually replace members of the current national teams.
He noted that Nigeria had qualified for the 2027 Men’s Junior Handball World Championship in North Macedonia, describing the achievement as evidence of the potential within the country’s handball system.
“How do we replace these players with upcoming players? This is the avenue for us to get players,” he said.
Seidu added that the federation was determined to make handball more visible and accessible, describing it as one of Nigeria’s major sporting disciplines with significant potential for growth.
The North Central tournament is part of a wider zonal programme designed to decentralise handball development across Nigeria.
According to the federation, similar competitions are being organised across other zones, including the South East, North East, North West and South South, with qualifiers from each zone expected to converge at a designated venue for the next stage of the competition.
The federation also appealed for greater support from sponsors, stakeholders and state associations to sustain its grassroots development programme.
It expressed appreciation to the participating states, academies, team sponsors and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the growth of handball in Nigeria.
The federation said the initiative would provide a platform for discovering the next generation of Nigerian handball stars while expanding the sport’s reach beyond its traditional centres.
While Speaking the elated coach of Benue Queen Godwin Tondo has promised a stronger and more tactical performance after guiding the team to victory at the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship in Abuja.
He attributed the success to the team’s long-term youth development programme, noting that the squad was built through a deliberate process of identifying and nurturing young talents.
According to him, the programme began with the selection of 92 girls from secondary schools, who were subsequently trained and developed over a four-year period.
He said the team’s success was a product of sustained hard work and commitment despite the challenges encountered during preparations for the tournament.
“I feel very pleased being a champion today. The road to this stage was very, very hard, but I am very happy that we have got the result from all the toughness of the game,” he said.
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