Nigeria Taekwondo Federation vice president Godwin Abah has voiced optimism about the discipline’s progress in the country, insisting that the federation is focused on nurturing competitors and pursuing qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Abah made the remarks on Friday during the opening of the 14th Korean Ambassador Cup at the Gymnastics Indoor Hall of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. More than 40 athletes took part across individual Poomsae, men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle categories.
He said the NTF’s plans cover both the identification of emerging prospects and the continued development of experienced athletes for international events. The arrival of fresh competitors, he added, has increased the standard of the contests and made title defences much more difficult for former winners.
“It is not only about finding new talents. Athletes who have been in the system for a while are also competing very well,” Abah said.
Abah also welcomed the recent classification of Nigerian para-taekwondo competitors by international specialists, describing it as an important advance in bringing athletes with disabilities fully into the nation’s sports structure. The assessment, carried out by experts linked to World Taekwondo, will allow qualifying Nigerian athletes to compete in para-taekwondo events outside the country.
He said the current NTF executive, headed by president Grandmaster Tayo Popoola, was extending the work done by earlier boards. The federation has staged a number of significant competitions, including national trials that enabled athletes to represent Nigeria in Mali, as well as the recently completed MOB tournament in Lagos.
The 2026 Korean Ambassador Cup, Abah said, provides another valuable opportunity to spot promising athletes, improve their development and prepare them for future international duties.
Popoola, meanwhile, commended the National Sports Commission for its ongoing backing and for creating a supportive environment for the federation.
“The NSC has been excellent to us, and we want to keep the momentum going and lift taekwondo to a higher level,” he said.
