{"id":2677,"date":"2026-07-04T18:59:45","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T15:59:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/2026-bauchi-polo-festival-20-teams-set-for-july-13-18-showpiece\/"},"modified":"2026-07-04T18:59:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T15:59:45","slug":"2026-bauchi-polo-festival-20-teams-set-for-july-13-18-showpiece","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/2026-bauchi-polo-festival-20-teams-set-for-july-13-18-showpiece\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Bauchi Polo Festival: 20+ Teams Set for July 13\u201318 Showpiece"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Over two dozen teams based at prominent polo centres across Nigeria are preparing to take part in the 2026 Bauchi Polo Festival, which will be held from July 13 to July 18 at the Col. A.D. Umar Polo Ground in Bauchi, the event\u2019s organisers have announced.<\/p>\n<h2>Key takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The 2026 Bauchi Polo Festival runs for six days, from July 13 through July 18, at the Col. A.D. Umar Polo Ground in Bauchi.<\/li>\n<li>Officials from the Nigeria Polo Federation, invited guests and players are expected to be hosted by Bauchi polo officials for the week-long competition.<\/li>\n<li>Support for the tournament comes from the Bauchi State Government plus corporate and individual backers.<\/li>\n<li>Bauchi is set to enter sides across all four main titles, with challengers arriving from multiple Nigerian cities.<\/li>\n<li>Jos Malcomines won the Governor\u2019s Cup last year, while other cups were shared among Jos Crown Club &amp; Resort, Kano Polo Cola and Kano Polo Cola again.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Festival details and expected participation<\/h2>\n<p>Bauchi Polo Club vice president Aliyu Sambo said the necessary arrangements have been completed to welcome Nigeria Polo Federation officials, participating players and invited guests. The festival is also anticipated to attract fans and followers from neighbouring countries, including Chad, Niger and Cameroon.<\/p>\n<p>Club secretary Haruna Usman Ningi added that the event enjoys backing from the Bauchi State Government as well as sponsors from both corporate ranks and private individuals. He said partners are committed to ensuring the tournament becomes one of the standout competitions on the national polo calendar, pointing to the quality of players expected during the week-long showcase.<\/p>\n<h2>Titles on offer and the strength of the host club<\/h2>\n<p>Polo captain Bello Sam-Pam confirmed that the host club, Bauchi, will field teams for all four major titles available at the festival. He noted that the biggest squads are expected to come from Jos, Yola, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and Katsina, while additional entries are also anticipated from Taraba, Zaria, Gombe and Maiduguri.<\/p>\n<p>Ningi said the polo venue is ready for action, describing the field as being in excellent shape. He added that Bauchi intends to present its strongest line-ups as it targets the tournament\u2019s top prize, the Governor\u2019s Cup.<\/p>\n<h2>Last year\u2019s winners and government support<\/h2>\n<p>Jos Malcomines, the defending champions, beat Bauchi Dokaji last year to lift the Governor\u2019s Cup. It was their sixth triumph in the competition, reinforcing their standing at the region\u2019s biggest polo event in northeastern Nigeria. Jos Crown Club &amp; Resort captured the Emir of Bauchi Cup, while Kano Polo Cola claimed the Sarki Fulani Cup.<\/p>\n<p>Kano Polo Cola then also won the Sir Tafawa Balewa Cup for the first time, following a tightly contested final. The festival\u2019s past success and competitive depth are expected to set the tone for the 2026 edition.<\/p>\n<p>Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who attended the previous closing ceremony through Commissioner for Sport and Youth Development Salisu Gamawa, extended congratulations to last year\u2019s winners and reiterated the state government\u2019s focus on advancing sport across Bauchi.<\/p>\n<h2>Background of Bauchi Polo Club<\/h2>\n<p>Bauchi Polo Club was formed in the late 1970s by a group of polo enthusiasts led by Col. Umar, who at the time served with the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over two dozen teams based at prominent polo centres across Nigeria are preparing to take part in the 2026 Bauchi Polo Festival, which will be held from July 13 to July 18 at the Col. A.D. Umar Polo Ground in Bauchi, the event\u2019s organisers have announced. Key takeaways The 2026 Bauchi Polo Festival runs for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2676,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"2026 Bauchi Polo Festival: 20+ Teams for July 13\u201318","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Get the latest on the 2026 Bauchi Polo Festival: 20+ teams, July 13\u201318 action at Col. A.D. 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