Heavyweights are expected to lead the charge as EL-Amin enter the 2026 Minna International Polo Tournament with momentum and a strong pedigree, with the Niger State capital set to light up at the IBB Sports Complex.
The annual festival, widely regarded as the “Power State’s” leading sporting and tourism showcase, is scheduled to run at the IBB Sports Complex and is framed as a major event on the state’s calendar.
Governor Mohammed Bago is among the key backers, having taken charge as President of the Minna Polo Club. With a clear goal of strengthening Minna’s standing as a top-tier destination for sport, the governor is working alongside a group of major commercial partners—including the Profile Group, El-Amin Nigeria Ltd., and the Niger State Internal Revenue Board—to stage what is being billed as a world-class week of polo.
Although the festival spans a full week of competitive action and multiple clashes, the focal point of the tournament remains the prestigious IBB Cup.
Arrivals and tournament goals
Minna Polo Captain Jamilu King confirmed that the competition has attracted more than 20 teams from across Nigeria.
King said the race for the IBB Cup has reached a high level of intensity, adding that organisers are ready to welcome thousands of polo supporters, corporate leaders, and tourists travelling to Minna from around the country for the week-long spectacle.
Beyond the headline IBB Cup, teams will also be vying for a major list of trophies, including the Governor’s Cup, Emir of Minna Cup, General Hassan Usman Katsina Cup, and the General Abdulsalami Abubakar Cup.
Other prizes on offer include the General M.I. Wushishi Cup, Talban Minna Cup, Senator Idris Ibrahim Cup, Kere Ahmed Cup, General Gado Nasko Cup, and the Beginners Cup.
Last year’s benchmark
EL-Amin set a high standard last season, finishing as Nigeria’s most successful high-goal polo franchise by winning both the IBB Cup and the Abdulsalami Cup.
Tournament Chairman and EL-Amin Patron Mohammad Babangida described Minna as the ideal proving ground ahead of the Georgian Cup, which is due to be contested at the Kaduna International Polo Tournament later in the year.
Babangida said it is especially meaningful for the team to win trophies in front of its home supporters, highlighting that the Minna tournament forms an important step in preparing for the high-goal phase of the season and that the atmosphere in the capital helps set the tone for the goals ahead.
More than polo: social and cultural significance
Organisers emphasise that the Minna Polo Tournament is not just about matchdays, positioning it instead as Niger State’s key social, cultural, and political meeting point.
The event is described as blending intense competition with elite networking, with governors, ministers, and lawmakers expected to interact in a relaxed and neutral setting. With the Emir of Minna and other prominent traditional authorities hosting, the festival is also presented as a celebration of heritage as well as athletic excellence.
Supporters and visitors are expected from across Nigeria, including Abuja, Kaduna, Ilorin, Suleja, Mokwa, Bida, Kontagora, and Lokoja.
Origins of the sport in Minna
Polo in the state traces its roots to 1972, when the late Senator (Dr.) Idris Kuta introduced the sport. At the time, games were played at the present-day U.K. Bello Theatre location before later moving to the IBB Sports Complex.
Today, the enduring popularity of polo in Niger State is sustained through ongoing patronage from Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Governor Mohammed Bago, and His Royal Highness, Alhaji Farouk Bahago OFR, the Emir of Minna.
