Team Nigeria set for Islamic Solidarity Games conquest in Saudi Arabia

The green-and-white flag is about to fly high again, this time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as ‘Team Nigeria’ gears up for battle at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games, holding from November 7 to 21, 2025.

With a 46 member contingent comprising of 35 athletes and 11 officials, the nation’s best will compete in seven sports, including athletics, para athletics, para powerlifting, weightlifting, wrestling, boxing, and taekwondo.

According to the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Honourable Bukola Olopade, the Games are more than just another international outing; they are a strategic stepping stone toward the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

“It’s part of our National Sports Commission’s strategic planning for the Olympics,” Olopade said confidently.

“The Islamic Solidarity Games represent a great opportunity for Nigeria to showcase our talent on the global stage and we believe this team has what it takes to excel.”

Already, the Team Nigeria camp in Abuja is buzzing with energy and determination. The advance party will depart on November 1, setting the tone for what promises to be a thrilling campaign in the desert kingdom.

The boxing team will be the first to get into the ring, with fights beginning on November 4, three days before the grand opening ceremony.

This year’s Games, featuring 21 sports and two para-sports bring together athletes from across the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states.

It will also mark Saudi Arabia’s second time hosting the event, two decades after the inaugural edition in 2005.

For Nigeria, the mission is clear: to compete, conquer, and continue the march toward Olympic greatness.

As the countdown begins, the desert winds of Riyadh may soon carry echoes of victory chants from the Nigerian camp because for Team Nigeria, the journey to Los Angeles 2028 begins right here, under the Saudi sun.