By Yusuf A Yusuf, Damaturu
The maiden Northeast Zone Elimination Intermediate Games 2026 ended on Saturday at the August 27 Stadium, Damaturu, with Borno and Yobe emerging as the standout winners of the three-day championship.
In the men’s football final, Borno defeated Adamawa 1-0 in a keenly contested match to book their place as the Northeast’s zonal representatives.
Host state Yobe also had reason to celebrate in women’s hockey, where the home team defeated Adamawa Ladies by a lone goal.
The closing day also featured decisive matches in men’s and women’s volleyball, basketball and handball, with winners emerging across all events to complete the zonal honours list.
Organised by the National Sports Commission through its Grassroots Sports Development Department, the tournament brought together athletes from the six Northeast states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and host Yobe.
The competition served as both a championship and qualifiers for the National Intermediate Games billed for Lagos State in October 2026.
The event was designed to discover, nurture and promote young sporting talents in the region while giving athletes a clear pathway to the national stage.
The National Sports Commission noted that the Northeast eliminations were part of a broader effort to revitalise grassroots sports and ensure even representation from all geopolitical zones ahead of the national finals.
Stakeholders in Yobe described Damaturu hosting the first edition as a boost for sports infrastructure and youth engagement in a region working to reassert its presence in national competitions.
With the zonal champions now confirmed, attention shifts to Lagos, where the Northeast contingent will compete against winners from the other five zones for national honours in October.
The three-day games ended with the Executive Director of Sports, Yobe State Sports Council, Dr. AbdulRaham Ago, a FIFA-graded referee, expressing optimism that the platform would produce athletes capable of representing Nigeria at higher levels in the years ahead.
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