Team Lagos emerged as the leading state at the Southwest zonal elimination ahead of the 23rd National Sports Festival, registering three first-place finishes and seven podium results in five team sports.
Held from September 13 to 16, the qualifying competition brought together representatives from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti, all competing for places at the National Sports Festival.
Lagos produced its most impressive results in volleyball, taking the men’s and women’s titles. Its men’s basketball side also finished as champion, while the state’s women’s football team topped its competition.
The state also secured four runner-up positions. Lagos placed second in women’s basketball, with both its men’s and women’s cricket teams completing the competition as runners-up.
With seven podium finishes from the 10 men’s and women’s events contested, Lagos was judged the strongest overall performer in the Southwest zone.
The outcome gives Team Lagos considerable momentum as preparations continue for the 23rd National Sports Festival. Lagos State Sports Commission Director-General Lekan Fatodu said the results reflected a carefully planned commitment to developing talent and strengthening competitive sport.
“The quality of talent in Lagos and the effect of our athlete-development efforts are clear in this performance,” Fatodu said. “Our athletes have demonstrated that Team Lagos can compete at the highest level, and we will continue providing the backing required for them to succeed.”
Fatodu also praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for maintaining his support for sport and investing in facilities as well as athlete development.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu deserves our appreciation for his firm commitment to sports,” he said. “His investment in facilities, programmes and the growth of athletes is giving them the foundation to compete, win and motivate the next generation.”
The director-general added that Lagos’ ambitions go beyond collecting medals. The state, he said, is working to create a sports structure that discovers talent at an early age, develops competitors in a systematic way and opens routes towards professional sporting careers.
“Winning competitions is not our only objective,” Fatodu said. “We are creating a lasting talent pathway that runs from grassroots sport to the elite level. Each medal is valuable, but it is even more important that young Lagosians have the chance to find their abilities, improve them and compete with confidence.”
The Southwest result comes as Lagos increases its focus on grassroots participation, talent discovery, athlete welfare and the expansion of sports facilities throughout the state.
Team Lagos will now concentrate on its final preparations for the 23rd National Sports Festival, aiming to turn its strong performance in the NSF Southwest zonal elimination into a substantial medal return when the festival takes place in Enugu later this year.
