Sports
Nigerians to Watch Team Nigeria Live as NSC, What Network Roll Out Free-to-Air Coverage
By Joel Ajayi
Millions of Nigerians will have the opportunity to watch Team Nigeria compete live at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, following a landmark partnership between the National Sports Commission (NSC) and What Network to provide nationwide free-to-air coverage of the Games.
The broadcast initiative was unveiled on Friday during a media briefing at the Media Centre of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, where the Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, described the partnership as a significant step towards bringing the nation’s athletes closer to Nigerians at home and abroad.
Under the arrangement, What Network has secured the free-to-air broadcast rights for Nigeria and will deliver live coverage through the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), TV Continental (TVC) and other interested terrestrial television stations. The Games will also be streamed on digital platforms, including NSC TV on YouTube and What Network’s online channels, allowing fans to follow Team Nigeria’s campaign from anywhere in the world.
Olopade said the Commission was committed to ensuring that every Nigerian becomes part of Team Nigeria’s journey at the Commonwealth Games.
“Recognising the importance of bringing the Games into every Nigerian home, the National Sports Commission has partnered with What Network to deliver free-to-air coverage of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
“Through this collaboration, every Nigerian will be able to follow Team Nigeria’s journey live and free, celebrating the dedication of our athletes and inspiring the next generation of sporting champions.”
According to him, coverage will begin with the Opening Ceremony on July 23 and continue throughout the competition, ensuring that all Team Nigeria events are accessible to viewers at no cost.
Beyond the live broadcasts, viewers will also enjoy a daily two-hour highlights programme featuring medal-winning performances, exclusive athlete interviews, key moments and behind-the-scenes content from Glasgow.
Olopade explained that the initiative goes beyond broadcasting, describing it as part of the Commission’s broader strategy to promote Nigerian sports, inspire young talents and unlock new commercial opportunities for athletes.
“We don’t care what it will cost. The important thing is that Nigerians, whether they are at home or abroad, should be able to watch and support our athletes live. When people watch sports, they become emotionally connected to the athletes, and that creates opportunities for sponsorships, endorsements and wealth creation,” he said.
He added that increased television exposure would encourage greater corporate investment in Nigerian sports while enabling families and communities across the country to support Team Nigeria throughout the Games.
The NSC Director General also challenged the athletes to deliver outstanding performances in Glasgow.
“I have told the athletes to go out there and compete for Nigeria. They should not just aim to win medals; they should aim to break world records. This is another step in our preparation towards the 2028 Olympic Games,” Olopade stated.
He further appealed to the media to support the Commission’s ongoing sports reforms, particularly efforts to reposition Nigerian football and strengthen the commercial value of the domestic league, stressing that a vibrant sports industry would benefit athletes, journalists, broadcasters and corporate partners.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Top Tier Sports Management and representative of What Network, Mrs. Chichi Nwoko, said the partnership was designed to eliminate barriers that prevent Nigerians from watching their national athletes compete on the international stage.
“We don’t want Nigerians to worry about subscriptions. Through our partnership with the NSC and NTA, the entire country will have access to Team Nigeria’s performances,” she said.
Nwoko disclosed that What Network would work closely with TVC to provide highlights and major moments from the Games, while extensive digital coverage would be delivered through NSC TV on YouTube and the network’s online platforms.
She described the Commonwealth Games as an important milestone on Nigeria’s journey to the Olympic Games, noting that young Nigerians should have the opportunity to follow and be inspired by the country’s athletes throughout the four-year Olympic cycle.
“We see the Commonwealth Games as part of Nigeria’s journey to the Olympics. Beyond television, we will provide highlights, short clips and real-time updates across our digital platforms. We are also encouraging the media to partner with us by using the highlight packages and clips to tell Team Nigeria’s story as it unfolds,” she added.
The partnership is expected to significantly boost nationwide interest in the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, ensuring that millions of Nigerians can cheer on Team Nigeria live while celebrating the country’s quest for medals and record-breaking performances on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages.
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.
-
Featured7 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured6 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured7 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured7 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured5 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Featured7 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
-
Sports4 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News2 years agoZulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
