A squash tournament staged in Lagos on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, marked what would have been the birthday of retired Senior Police Officer Maria Catherine Ebomah, who died before the occasion could be celebrated with her. The competition served as the first posthumous tribute to Ebomah, a former police field events athlete whose support for young squash players spanned her years of active service at the Police College and continued after her retirement. Her involvement with Headwaters Squash Academy was cited by organisers as central to why squash was chosen as the vehicle for honouring her memory.
Honouring a Legacy of Youth Support
The idea was first conceived by squash stakeholder Seun Peters, who originally planned it as a birthday commemoration. Ebomah's son, Solomon, later joined as a sponsor and helped scale the event into a more substantial competition. Preserving her reputation as a philanthropist and advocate for young athletes was described as a key motivation behind the initiative.
Among the competitors who took part in the event in Lagos were Tosin Bejide, Friday Daniel, Daniel Eniafoghe, Ejiro Richard, Godspower Ejiro, Karen Kagbu, Favour Kagbu, Annabel, Emmanuel Yakubu, Andra and Emmanuel Thomas. Bejide emerged as the winner, taking home N100,000, while Daniel finished as runner-up and earned N80,000. Eniafoghe placed third and received N50,000.
Annual Tournament with National Ambitions
Following the 2026 edition's success, the squash tournament is set to return annually, with organisers planning to expand it into a national event in 2027. The 2027 edition is expected to run beyond a single day and graduate into a national competition. Solomon Ebomah and his siblings will determine whether future editions are structured as age-category events or senior open competitions.
Organisers stated that the planned expansion reflects a wider ambition to grow the sport across Nigeria, while keeping Ebomah's contributions to youth development at the heart of the effort.
Broader Context: Football Hooliganism in Nigeria
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that football hooliganism continues to harm the safety, reputation, and progress of the domestic league in Nigeria. Crowd trouble, pitch invasions, and attacks on match officials remain a major sports crisis.
