Lagos Information, Vanguard seeded as 2026 NUJ Media Games Football Draw is conducted

Lagos Information and Vanguard have been seeded in the men’s 5-a-side football competition of the 2026 NUJ Media Games, following the draw ceremony conducted at the NUJ Secretariat, Ikeja on Thursday.

Lagos Information was seeded first in Group A, while Vanguard was seeded first in Group B.

The men’s groups are:
Group A: Lagos Information, VON, Traffic Radio, FRCN, The Nation
Group B: Vanguard, FMMC, Lagos Television, Guardian

In the women’s competition, Lagos Television and Lagos Information were seeded to head Groups A and B respectively.

The groups are:
Group A: Lagos Television, Traffic Radio, FMMC, FRCN
Group B: Lagos Information, Vanguard, Guardian, VON

The official opening game will see Lagos Information take on VON, after a novelty match between the NUJ Exco and a selected team in honour of the late Alfred Odifa. Matches start at 1:00 pm daily, and each game lasts 30 minutes, 15 minutes per half.
The draw was conducted at a press conference where the Games logo was also unveiled. The Games hold from October 5 to 9, 2026, at the Agege Stadium and the NUJ Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.
The Chairman of the 2026 NUJ Media Games Sports Committee, Mr. Ayo Ojedokun, said the Games were designed to give journalists a way to ease off the stress of the newsroom, keep fit and healthy, and create time for recreation.

He announced that, besides 5-a-side football for men and women, the Games will feature the 100m race and indoor events including Chess, Draught, Ayo, Scrabble and Table Tennis.
Ojedokun also called on corporate organisations to take advantage of the window provided by the Games to promote their products, noting that more sponsors are welcome to join in making the NUJ Media Games a success.

The Chairman of the NUJ, Lagos Council, Mr. Adeleye Ajayi, said the Games have come to stay and that the Council is excited to organise them.

He thanked Coca-Cola, Nestle Foods, SFAX Group, Agege Local Government and Amuwo Odofin Local Government for identifying with the Council to improve the mental alertness of journalists.

Also at the event, a minute of silence was observed for the former Secretary of the Council, Mr. Alfred Odifa, who passed on Thursday morning.