Team Lagos has shown strong performance at the Southwest zonal elimination for the 23rd National Sports Festival. They won four events and secured seven podium finishes in five team sports.
The zonal elimination took place from September 13 to 16. Teams from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti competed for spots at the National Sports Festival.
Lagos excelled in volleyball, winning both the men’s and women’s events. The men’s basketball team also took home the championship, while the women’s football team finished first in their category.
These results gave Lagos four first-place finishes and three second-place finishes across the ten categories for both men and women.
Lagos came second in women’s basketball, and the men’s and women’s cricket teams also placed second.
This performance puts Lagos in a good position ahead of the 23rd National Sports Festival in Enugu later this year.
Lekan Fatodu, the Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, credited the results to the state's focus on talent development and competitive sports.
“This performance shows the quality of talent in Lagos and the impact of the work we are putting into athlete development. Our athletes have shown that Team Lagos is ready to compete at the highest level, and we will continue to give them the support they need to succeed,” he said.
Mr Fatodu praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his support of sports infrastructure and athlete development.
“We appreciate Governor Sanwo-Olu for his strong commitment to sports. His investment in facilities, programmes, and athlete development is creating the platform for our athletes to compete, win, and inspire the next generation,” he added.
He also mentioned that the state’s goals go beyond just winning medals. They aim to develop a system that identifies talent early and creates pathways for sporting careers.
“Our goal is not simply to win competitions. We are building a sustainable pipeline of talent from the grassroots to the elite level. Every medal matters, but what matters even more is that we are creating opportunities for young Lagosians to discover their abilities, develop them, and compete with confidence,” Mr Fatodu explained.
The results from the Southwest elimination come as Lagos focuses on grassroots sports, talent identification, athlete support, and improving sports infrastructure.
Now, Lagos teams will start preparing for the 23rd National Sports Festival in Enugu, aiming to build on their success from the zonal elimination.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇