Sports
NSC Mulls Inclusion of Foreign-Based Athletes in Future Sports Festivals
Joel Ajayi
The National Sports Commission (NSC) is considering the inclusion of foreign-based Nigerian athletes in subsequent editions of the National Sports Festival (NSF), in a bid to raise the standard and showcase the country’s full athletic potential.
Chairman of the Commission, Shehu Dikko, disclosed this on Sunday in Abeokuta while addressing journalists covering the ongoing 22nd edition of the biennial sports fiesta.
According to Dikko, the primary goal of the festival goes beyond just winning medals—it is about creating a platform to discover and showcase Nigeria’s top sporting talents.
“Looking ahead, we’re considering inviting our best athletes, including those in the diaspora, for future festivals,” he said. “Ultimately, it’s not just about winning; it’s about giving our talents the platform to shine.”
He added that the commission would use data from the festival to benchmark athlete performance against continental and global standards.
“When we assess results from this festival, we’ll compare them with African and world records to help set clear benchmarks,” Dikko said. “During the University Games trials at the University of Lagos, for instance, the final report featured three columns: the winner’s result, the African record, and the world record. That gave us useful perspective.”
He stressed that the origin of athletes should not be a barrier to participation, emphasizing that talent, commitment, and performance are the most important factors.
“It doesn’t matter where an athlete is based. What matters is what they bring to the table,” he noted. “With the right training, support, and publicity, they can excel and make the nation proud.”
Dikko also highlighted the unifying power of sports, stating that it remains one of the country’s most valuable national assets.
“Sports transcends its economic value—it unites us. It doesn’t matter where you’re from; once you’re involved, you’re part of the family,” he said.
He added that some states might have more athletes but limited resources to register in all events, which in turn creates healthy competition and encourages other states to raise their game.
“That’s the beauty of the system,” he concluded
Sports
AACT 2026: 31 Days to Africa’s Big Sporting Gathering in Abuja
Joel Ajayi
The countdown to the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) has officially entered the final month, with just 31 days to go before Africa’s leading women’s team golf championship tees off at the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja.
In a statement signed by the AACT 2026Director of Communication Kayode Adeniyi on Friday in Abuja.
Under the theme “Africa Is Coming to Abuja,” the countdown campaign will spotlight the championship, the participating nations, the players, the host venue and the growing development of women’s golf across the continent.
The 2026 AACT, scheduled for November 2–7, will bring together women’s golfing talent from across Africa for six days of continental competition in Nigeria’s capital.
As preparations continue at the IBB International Golf & Country Club, attention is increasingly turning to Abuja, where the championship will provide a platform for African golfers to compete while also showcasing Nigeria’s hospitality and the country’s growing profile as a destination for major sporting events.
The countdown will feature daily stories, interviews, player and country profiles, tournament facts, behind-the-scenes updates and features on the host venue as the championship draws closer.
The campaign will also highlight the role of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), the Local Organising Committee and other stakeholders in preparing for the continental championship.
With just 31 days remaining, anticipation is building across the African golfing community as Abuja prepares to welcome the continent’s leading women golfers.
Africa is coming to Abuja.
.
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