Abia State has reinforced its status as the home of Teqball in Nigeria after successfully hosting the 2026 Teqball World Championship Qualifiers at the Aba Sports Club 1926, with five gold medal-winning entries securing qualification to represent Nigeria at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
The qualifiers, which attracted over 60 teqers from 14 states, featured matches across men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles, with athletes battling for the opportunity to compete at the global championship in December.
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Delta State emerged overall best, topping the medals table with 3 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze. Its number-one teqer, Victor Oyemade, underlined his dominance with victory over fellow Delta player Mikel Enebechukwu in the men’s singles final, winning 12-8, 12-5 to claim the title and a Budapest ticket.
Delta’s Rejoice Jatau emerged women’s singles champion after defeating compatriot Efemena Ekeke 12-8, 12-7, while in the mixed doubles final, Oyemade and Jatau combined to defeat Abia State’s Ihiedioha McBlaise and Mariam Abdulasheed 12-4, 12-10, completing another gold for Delta.
Host Abia State finished second with 1 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze, with the women’s doubles title going to Aganmuyi Omokehinde and Mariam Abdulasheed who overcame Efemena Ekeke and Miracle Edafe of Delta 12-10, 12-9.
Rivers State also secured a championship ticket through Joshua Musa and Ikoko Andrew, who defeated Abia’s Khalid Yahyah and Tobi Mejedji in three sets, 8-12, 12-5, 12-9, to win the men’s doubles title.
Rivers finished third with 1 gold and 3 bronze medals, while Lagos State won a bronze medal.
The five gold medal-winning entries will now represent Nigeria at the 2026 Teqball World Championships in Budapest from December 1st to 6th, where they will compete against the world’s best players.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Jane Igwe, congratulated the winners and thanked Governor Alex Otti for his determination to develop all kinds of sports in Abia.
The President of the Nigeria Teqball Federation, Habu Gumel, represented by the Federation’s Vice President and Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Mr. Ndudi Edede, described Abia’s hosting as a significant milestone in the continued development and promotion of Teqball in Nigeria.
Gumel noted that Abia had become the only state to host consecutively the World Teqball Championship Qualifiers and the maiden edition of the National Teqball League in March 2026, and the only state that had purchased and donated Teqball equipment to support the development of the sport.
“It is therefore not out of place to say that Abia, presently, is home of Teqball in Nigeria,” he stated, urging other states to emulate Governor Otti’s commitment to sports development and youth empowerment.
He expressed appreciation to the 69th President of Aba Sports Club, Chief Nkene Enukeme and members of the management committee for providing a standard venue.
He further noted that the competition provided an important platform for discovering talents, strengthening competitive structures and preparing Nigerian athletes for greater challenges on the international stage.
“We encourage you to prepare diligently for the next stage. To those who did not qualify this time, do not be discouraged. Every competition is an opportunity to learn, improve and come back stronger,” Gumel stated.
The Abia State Director of Sports, Comrade Obioma George, commended Governor Otti for creating an enabling environment for sports to thrive, and urged youths to take advantage of the introdu…
