By Ado Salisu
Preparations for the 23rd National Sports Festival, Coal City Games 2026, have gathered momentum as zonal eliminations for team sports are scheduled to take place across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones from September 12 to 15.
The eliminations, which form a key qualification stage for the Games, will feature basketball, cricket, football, volleyball and beach volleyball in both male and female categories.
Under the rules of the Festival, the first- and second-placed teams in each zone will qualify for the National Sports Festival, while host state, Enugu, will secure automatic qualification in all the featured team sports.
The Main Organising Committee (MOC) has directed zonal coordinators to commence preparations and submit proposed venues for the competitions.
The committee also stressed the need for strict compliance with the rules and regulations of the Games to ensure fair play and a level playing field for all participating teams.
The 23rd National Sports Festival, themed “Excellence, Sportsmanship and Unity,” is scheduled to hold in Enugu from November 27 to December 11, 2026.
