Enugu 2026: Zonal Eliminations For Team Sports Begin September 12

The race for places at the 23rd National Sports Festival, Coal City Games 2026, will intensify this weekend as zonal eliminations for team sports begin across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) said the qualification competitions will hold from September 12 to 15, with teams battling for places at the National Sports Festival scheduled for Enugu from November 27 to December 11.

The eliminations will feature basketball, cricket, football and volleyball/beach volleyball in both male and female categories.

Under the Festival’s qualification rules, the top two teams from each geopolitical zone in the featured sports will secure tickets to the Games.

Host state Enugu, however, will enjoy automatic qualification in all the team sports on the programme.

The Main Organising Committee (MOC) has directed the various zonal coordinators to step up preparations for the qualification exercise and submit proposed venues for the competitions.

The coordinators have also been instructed to ensure strict compliance with the rules and regulations governing the Games, with the NSC stressing the need for fair competition and a level playing field for all participating teams.

The zonal eliminations represent a major milestone in preparations for the Enugu Games, as athletes and teams across the country begin the final push for qualification to Nigeria’s biggest multi-sport event.

The 23rd National Sports Festival is themed “Excellence, Sportsmanship and Unity” and will bring together athletes from across the country for 15 days of competition in Enugu.

The Coal City Games are scheduled to run from November 27 to December 11, 2026, with preparations gathering momentum following the commencement of the qualification process for team sports.