By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
Nigeria is making significant strides across tennis, netball and chess, with athletes representing the country at major international competitions in Kenya, Morocco and Uzbekistan.
Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, described the developments as evidence of renewed momentum in Nigeria’s sports administration and efforts to expand the country’s competitive presence beyond traditional sporting disciplines.
Nigeria is making its debut at the Africa Netball Cup and the Netball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers in Nairobi, Kenya. The continental tournament runs from September 19 to 26, with Nigeria among the 10 participating nations competing for continental honours and qualification opportunities for the 2027 Netball World Cup.
At the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Team Nigeria also made a strong start, with both the Open and Women’s teams recording 4-0 victories in their respective opening-round matches.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s tennis team is in Rabat, Morocco, for a Davis Cup World Group II first-round tie against Morocco, with the tie being played over September 19 and 20.
Olopade said the simultaneous participation of Nigerian athletes in the three international competitions reflects the Commission’s efforts to broaden opportunities for athletes across different disciplines.
“In one weekend, Nigeria is breaking new grounds in Tennis, Netball and consolidating in Chess at a global scale,” he said.
He added that the NSC’s interventions over the past year had revitalised sports that had previously received limited attention while creating new opportunities for athletes.
“In the last one year, sports that had been abandoned for years, have been given new vigor by the NSC and more bread winners have been created and lots more being created,” Olopade said.
The NSC said the country’s participation in the three international competitions underscores its broader objective of building a diversified sports ecosystem capable of producing elite athletes, expanding international recognition and creating sustainable opportunities for Nigerian sportsmen and women.
