The 2026 National Sports Festival, known as the Coal City Games, is facing a potential boycott as tensions escalate between state sports officials and the National Sports Commission (NSC). The Forum of State Directors of Sports and General Managers has declared its readiness to withdraw participation if the NSC fails to reinstate Traditional Sports, Olympic Sports, and Board Games that were removed from the festival lineup.
Directors Demand Reinstatement
In a letter titled Position of Forum of State Directors of Sports/General Managers, issued by Secretary Tunde Ajibike (Director of Sports, Oyo State), the forum expressed strong opposition to the exclusion. The letter noted that the NSC did not honor an agreement reached at the Calabar meeting, which stipulated that state directors would be involved in selecting sports for the festival. Consequently, directors were excluded from the process, and the forum rejects this action entirely.
The forum unequivocally demands the reinstatement of Traditional Sports, as well as removed Olympic Sports and Board Games. Failure to do so will compel directors across the country to withdraw participation. The letter further states that the NSC does not directly manage athletes and coaches at the state level and may not fully grasp the extensive processes, planning, and resources required to train and prepare athletes throughout the year. It is unacceptable that, after such investments, certain sports are arbitrarily removed with assurances of alternative arrangements that are neither clear nor credible.
Another concern raised is the suggestion that participation in the Para Games serves as a qualification criterion for the National Sports Festival. The forum questions whether any statutory provision supports this claim and whether adequate mobilization and support were provided to enable states to participate in the Para Games, given the rigorous approval processes required from state governments.
The forum aligns with an earlier communiqué and maintains its position until the NSC addresses these concerns. If the host state, Enugu, lacks facilities to accommodate all approved sports, the hosting rights should be reconsidered and awarded to another adequately prepared state, as has been done in the past. The directors, as critical stakeholders, will not support policies that undermine sports development and remain committed to initiatives that promote nationwide growth. The current actions suggest states are being taken for granted, a situation no longer acceptable. The interests of athletes and coaches must be protected at all times, the secretary stated.
Northern States Threaten Boycott
Following the reduction in sports, some northern states have threatened to stay away from the Coal City 2026 Games. This comes after similar threats from South-south states unhappy with the scale-down. Niger State Sports Commission Chairman Abdullahi Masu described the NSC's decision to reduce events from 40 to 15 as unjustifiable and detrimental to sports development. Masu noted that northern states, including Niger, have invested significant resources over years in training athletes for now-excluded events. The decision would marginalize the region, which traditionally has a comparative advantage in team sports.
Participation under such conditions would amount to a waste of public funds, as many athletes would be denied competition opportunities. Masu lamented that popular and foundational team sports—handball, volleyball, basketball, football, and hockey—have been removed. The exclusion could lead to increased unemployment among athletes and undermine grassroots development. He described the decision as a setback to national sports growth and called for its immediate reversal, urging the NSC to review and expand the event list to safeguard athlete welfare.
NSC Defends Decision
Meanwhile, NSC Director General Bukola Olopade described the calls for reversal as unfortunate. Speaking with The Guardian, Olopade stated that hosting the National Sports Festival is expensive, and the NSC aims to ease the burden on host states. He noted that even the Olympic Games reduced sports from 35 to 25 without protest. He asked when Nigerian handball, volleyball, and other sports last qualified for the Olympics. The NSC can no longer accommodate all ball games in the festival. Affected sports federations have been asked to develop yearly programs, which the NSC will support financially. Federations do not need to wait for the festival to organize events. The NSC will proceed with 15 sports at the Coal City Games, Olopade concluded.
