The 19th edition of the National Sports Festival on Sunday came to an end at the Abuja National Stadium with Delta State finishing top of the table with an unprecedented 342 medals, relegating the likes of Rivers, Edo and Lagos State to the first, second runners-up and fourth positions respectively.
Browsing: Abuja national Stadium
President Muhammadu Buhari will headline the dignitaries expected at a colourful closing ceremony of the 19th National Sports Festival billed for the Abuja National Stadium on Sunday.
Solomon Dalung, the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, on Friday said Nigeria would dominate the wrestling sport with proper investment and training.
It was an exhilarating moment at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Abuja National Stadium, venue of the table tennis event of the ongoing National Sports Festival as 19-year-old Nimota Aregbesola beat former African champion, Funke Oshonaike in the quarter-finals women singles.
Chris Giwa, the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Thursday said the federation’s secretariat would move to the Sunday Dankaro House at the Abuja National Stadium next week.
The current country’s taekwondo leadership, which was inaugurated barely two months after last year’s National Sports Federation election in June, has been one of the busiest federation in terms of sporting activities, with the introduction of first ever Nigeria Open in December, less than five months in office.
He said: “When you start away, it is always good to come back home with clean sheet and win the game. So, if we can do that in an away game, we will have advantage to handle the game at home.”
On the occasion, which took place at the Media Centre of the Abuja National Stadium, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports and Chairman, Main Organising Committee, Olusade Adesola, described the inauguration as a milestone in efforts towards hosting the National Sports Festival.
The HFN President, Samuel Ocheho, made the announcement at the end of the first phase of the Prudent Energy Handball League played at the Abuja National Stadium.
It was a subdued performance from Kadhe, as the 24-year-old Indian was visibly fatigued after playing two matches on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Super Eagles will take on their Congolese counterparts next month ahead of the 2018 World Cup finals which begins in June.
The Minister, who paid an unscheduled visit to the swimming pool section of the Stadium, expressed displeasure with the lack of use of the pool, which is now turned to a breeding pond for tadpoles, fishlings and frogs.
The Chairman of the Committee, Abdulrazak Salau, said in a statement that the affected federations were those of Athletics, Gymnastics, Wrestling and Taekwondo.
The inauguration, according to a statement by the Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, will hold at the Main bowl of the Abuja National Stadium.
Hon. Godfrey Gaiya, who led his committee members on oversight function to the Abuja Stadium on Wednesday, described the N96.6 million used for the re-grassing of the pitch as “doubtful”
Speaking ahead of the match, the Golden Eaglets Head Coach, Manu Garba, and his opposite number, Emmanuel Bishop Amakiri, said there is more at stake for obvious reasons after the Abuja-based team were recently beaten 4-2 by the National Under-17 team in Calabar, Cross River State
He said: “The pitch would be ready for light use from August 15th and we will observe it for two weeks. After that, the pitch can be used regularly for football and other sporting activities