Eko 2026 to expose athlete‑poaching states – Yusuf Alli

Former Nigerian Olympian Yusuf Alli has highlighted that the inaugural National Intermediate Games, dubbed EKO 2026, will serve as a crucial test for states investing in grassroots athlete development. The Games, set to take place in Lagos from October 1 to 15, will include athletes aged 15 to 18 competing in 28 sports. Organisers anticipate over 14,000 participants from Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Alli, involved in the organizing, stressed that the event aims to enhance the transition from youth to senior sports. He pointed out that the Games will reveal which states have legitimately developed athletes, as opposed to states that merely recruit established talents for medal gains. "This will expose states. States that just go and buy athletes for festivals — this will determine the ones that have really been training," Alli remarked.

He further emphasized that the competition will shift the focus from short-term medal success to identifying states with robust systems for producing athletes. Noting that states like Edo and Lagos have excelled in training athletes, Alli indicated that it will be interesting to see which states demonstrate consistent development of athletes over time.

The issue of athlete recruitment has been a contentious topic in Nigeria’s multi-sport competitions. The National Sports Festival, the country’s leading event, has traditionally been dominated by a few states. For instance, Delta State secured the title at the 2025 edition with 323 medals, including 122 gold. In contrast, at the youth level, Lagos dominated the medal table at the 2025 National Youth Games in Asaba, securing 52 gold medals. These disparities underscore the importance of EKO 2026.

Differing from the current hierarchy of the National Sports Festival, the Intermediate Games will focus on states with strong pipelines of athletes progressing through the youth ranks. The selected age group of 15 to 19 is crucial as it marks a transitional phase where athletes move from introductory competitions to senior-level preparation. Alli confirmed that talent identification teams will closely monitor performances, particularly those of athletes who may not excel immediately but show potential for future success.

Alli believes the true value of EKO 2026 lies not just in the medal count but in the number of young athletes identified, developed, and retained by their states as they transition to senior competition. He envisages the Games becoming a benchmark for Nigeria’s grassroots sports system, testing states’ ability to build sustainable talent pipelines rather than merely assembling teams for short-term success.