The 2026 Ibadan International Polo Tournament will be remembered as a landmark chapter in Oyo State’s sporting history, as the ancient city marked 120 years of “the Game of Kings” with a week-long celebration blending pageantry, prestige and high-drama polo. The festival of action ultimately ended in a memorable success for the home team, Ibadan DFL, sealing a trophy-filled finale in front of a packed atmosphere.
Royal attention underscored the final, with the presence of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, the Olubadan of Ibadanland. He was joined by a notable gathering of guests, including Yoruba nation activist the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, former military governor of the old Western Region Brigadier-General Oluwole Rotimi (rtd), and activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.
In the headline match, Ibadan DFL—steered by inspirational captain Carl Alakija and supported by Idris Badamasi, Dantala Ibrahim and Abdulrahman Mohammed—showed resilience to come from behind and defeat Lagos A1 Shoreline 7½–7. The victory delivered the inaugural Olubadan Cup and ensured the team became the first-ever holders of the tournament’s most coveted prize.
Lagos A1 Shoreline, featuring Isa Kwame, Murtala Aliyu, Tata-Ali Kura and Sule, had started strongly to establish an early advantage. However, the hosts responded with urgency and drive, rallying to edge the contest by a razor-thin margin.
Speaking after the win, Alakija said the result was hard-earned. “It wasn’t easy — they went all out after their second-game victory, but we wanted it more and we pushed it to the last second,” he said. He also dedicated the trophy to Oba Ladoja and highlighted the quality of the competition. “Winning by half a goal, to the glory of the Almighty God — that made all things happen.”
Excitement did not end with the final. One of the tournament’s most gripping moments came when Kano Ibah Oil & Gas overcame Lagos/GDF via a golden goal after both teams were locked at 4–4 when regulation time ended.
Elsewhere, the Dantata Boys—Salim, Baba and Sadiq—helped power Kano Golden Abure to a dominant 7½–3 win over Lagos Bemil. The triumph earned them the Ade Alakija Cup, which was dedicated to the memory of the late Ibadan Polo Captain.
Ibadan DFL also collected a second piece of silverware, defeating Lead City in the NPA Centenary Match Exhibition Cup. The tournament further showcased flair through the Rita Alakija-led Women’s Polo Game, adding glamour to the programme while raising funds for charity and sending a strong message about women’s growing impact in the sport.
Ibadan Polo Club President Abimbola Adeyemi hailed the success of the milestone edition and singled out Ibadan DFL for their historic double. “We are particularly proud that Ibadan DFL made history by winning both the Olubadan Cup and the Shoreline Cup,” he said, thanking royal fathers, diplomats, corporate sponsors and polo enthusiasts from across Nigeria and beyond for helping make the celebration such a resounding success.
With more than twenty teams taking part from across the country, the tournament saw Kano and the host city of Ibadan set the tone for much of the competition. By contrast, Port Harcourt and Jos sides failed to leave a major mark as the leading squads pushed forward.
Seen as the standout polo festival in Nigeria’s Western region and among the nation’s most established tournaments—tracing its roots to the early 1900s—the Ibadan International Polo Tournament continues to draw sports fans, business leaders and influential figures. It remains a key attraction for tourism and social life in Oyo State and beyond.
