By Dorcas Francis Koji
Team Lagos delivered an impressive performance at the Southwest zonal elimination games in Ibadan, winning four titles across the five team sports contested ahead of the 23rd National Sports Festival in Enugu.
The elimination tournament, held from September 13 to 16 in Oyo State, brought together teams from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti, with athletes battling for qualification spots at the National Sports Festival.
The competitions featured basketball, beach volleyball, cricket, football and volleyball across the male and female categories.
Lagos enjoyed its biggest success in volleyball, emerging champions in both the men’s and women’s events. The state also claimed the men’s basketball title, while its women’s football team finished top of its category.
The state further strengthened its overall showing with runner-up finishes in women’s basketball as well as both the men’s and women’s cricket competitions.
The results provide an early boost for Team Lagos as preparations intensify for the 23rd National Sports Festival, scheduled to take place in Enugu from November 27 to December 11.
Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, described the performance as evidence of the state’s sustained investment in athlete 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,” Fatodu said.
He also commended Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for what he described as continued support for sports infrastructure, programmes and athlete development across the state.
“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.
Fatodu stressed that Lagos’ sporting ambitions go beyond winning medals, noting that the state is focused on establishing a sustainable system capable of identifying young talents early and developing them into elite athletes.
“Our goal is not simply to win competitions. We are building a sustainable pipeline of talent from the grassroots to 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,” he said.
With the Southwest eliminations completed, Team Lagos will now turn its attention to the National Sports Festival in Enugu, where the state will seek to build on its strong zonal performance and compete for honours across the various sporting disciplines.
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