The journey toward Nigeria’s historic, first-ever National Intermediate Games has officially begun. The National Sports Commission (NSC) has announced that the highly anticipated Zonal Elimination for Team Sports is proceeding exactly as scheduled across all geopolitical zones of the country.
Reassuring participating states, athletes, and sports federations, the NSC confirmed that the approved timeline of activities is in full gear, with the nationwide elimination exercises running from September 10 to September 12, 2026 .
These qualifiers are a critical stepping stone in grassroots sports development, designed to rigorously filter and determine the elite teams that will earn the right to represent their respective zones at the main event next year. To ensure fairness and high competitive standards, the NSC has mandated that all zonal qualifiers be conducted in strict compliance with the approved Technical Manual and the governing Rules and Regulations of the Games
The Battlegrounds: Eleven Sports, Multiple Venues
Athletes will battle for a coveted ticket to Lagos across 11 dynamic team sports :
- Abula
- Basketball
- Beach Volleyball
- Cricket
- Football
- Handball
- Hockey
- Indoor Volleyball
- Netball
- Rugby
- Wheelchair Basketball
To facilitate a seamless qualification process, the NSC has officially greenlit top-tier venues across the country to host the regional showdowns:
- South South Zone : The iconic U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, Cross River State, will host the region’s brightest talents.
- North West Zone : Action will unfold at the historic Murtala Muhammad Square in Kaduna.
- North East Zone : The August 27 stadium in Damaturu, Yobe State, will serve as the battleground for the zone.
- South West Zone : Athletes will converge at the renowned Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan, Oyo State.
- Jos Cluster (Plateau State) : This hub will feature a spread of specialized venues:
Cricket & Basketball : Rayfield
Beach Volleyball: St. John’s College
Hockey : Police Training Field (along J.D. Gomwalk Road)
Football: NTA TV College grounds
All other remaining team events for the cluster will be held at Rayfield.
Looking ahead to 2027
The National Sports Commission used the opportunity to reiterate its unwavering commitment to the seamless and successful delivery of the National Intermediate Games. The Commission expressed deep appreciation to all zonal coordinators, state sports councils, federations, and corporate partners for their immense dedication to driving grassroots sports development in Nigeria.
The qualifiers are just the beginning. The inaugural National Intermediate Games will officially take center stage in the first quarter of 2027 , with Lagos State fully primed to host the rest of the nation in what promises to be a spectacular showcase of Nigeria’s next generation of sporting superstars.
