The National Sports Commission has stated that the last one week is a reflection of the country’s drive towards sports excellence, following a series of impressive achievements recorded by Team Nigeria across cycling, aquatics, and athletics just as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approved Nigeria to host the 48th Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football and this year’s CAF Awards Ceremony.
Reacting to the recent developments, Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, said the current administration’s deliberate investment and support for sports are producing visible results across different sporting platforms.
According to a statement signed by his media aide Kola Daniel, Olopade declared that, “This has been another great week for Nigerian sports and it is clear that the sector will continue to get better under the leadership and support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Mr. President has shown genuine enthusiasm and commitment towards reshaping sports in Nigeria, and we are already seeing the impact through the performances of our athletes and the growing confidence of international sporting bodies in Nigeria.”
“The approval for Nigeria to host the CAF General Assembly and CAF Awards is a major statement about the country’s rising profile in global sports administration. It shows that the world is beginning to recognize the positive changes happening in our sports ecosystem.”
“From cycling to aquatics and athletics, our athletes have continued to make the nation proud. These achievements are products of strategic planning, improved athlete support, and the Commission’s determination to create a sustainable pathway for sports development in Nigeria.”
President Tinubu approved the request for Nigeria to host the CAF General Assembly and Awards Ceremony during the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, after a meeting with CAF President Patrice Motsepe.
The past week also witnessed remarkable performances from Team Nigeria athletes at various continental and global competitions.
At the 2026 Confederation of African Cycling Para-Track and Track African Championships held at the Velodrome in Abuja, Nigeria dominated the competition with a total of 16 medals comprising 9 gold, 5 silver, and 2 bronze medals.
Nigeria also recorded success in aquatic sports after winning three bronze medals and receiving continental recognition for Best Aquatic Development at the 17th Africa Aquatics Championships in Oran, Algeria.
In athletics, Team Nigeria delivered another strong outing at the 2026 World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, securing three qualification tickets for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing, as well as one qualification ticket for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
Nigerian athletes are currently competing for laurels at the 24th CAA Senior African Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana. It runs from May 12–17, 2026, at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium in Legon.
Hon. Olopade said that the Commission remains committed to sustaining the momentum through talent discovery, athlete welfare, grassroots development, and consistent international exposure for Nigerian athletes.
“We are building a sports culture that promotes excellence, rewards hard work, and positions Nigeria as a dominant sporting nation globally. The future is bright for Nigerian sports, and we remain committed to achieving even greater milestones.”
