Delta State has taken the lead on the medal table at the ongoing National Sports Festival, also called the Gateway Games, pushing Bayelsa State to second place as the sports event enters its final days.
By the end of Day 6, Delta had won a total of 76 medals—35 gold, 12 silver, and 29 bronze. Bayelsa, which was leading earlier in the competition, followed closely with 66 medals—33 gold, 16 silver, and 17 bronze.
Delta’s strong return to the top came after big wins in swimming and taekwondo events.
In swimming, Duke Eniyekenumi won gold in the men’s 200m backstroke, while Akiayefa Timipame-ere added another gold in the women’s 200m individual medley.
Delta also did very well in taekwondo, winning five gold, two silver, and four bronze medals at the Ilisan Town Hall. The team led the taekwondo results, especially in the demonstration category (Poomsae), winning gold in the male team, female team, and mixed pair events.
National athletes Olusola Olowookere and Kolade Paul also won gold in the lightweight and middleweight classes.
Top 5 on the Medal Table (as of May 23, 2025):
1. Delta – 35 gold, 12 silver, 29 bronze (76 total)
2. Bayelsa – 33 gold, 16 silver, 17 bronze (66 total)
3. Rivers – 17 gold, 13 silver, 13 bronze (43 total)
4. Ogun (Host) – 12 gold, 14 silver, 18 bronze (44 total)
5. Oyo – 12 gold, 12 silver, 18 bronze (42 total)
In men’s football, four teams are through to the semifinals.
Host state Ogun beat Delta 2-1 in a comeback victory. Jabbar Malik scored first for Delta, but Musa Abdullahi secured Ogun’s win with a late goal in the 86th minute.
Kaduna won 5-4 on penalties against Lagos after a 1-1 draw. The U-17 National Team (Golden Eaglets) thrashed Ebonyi 5-0, with Abdulmuiz Adeleke scoring two goals. Kwara also moved on after a 2-0 win over Imo.
Men’s Semifinal Fixtures:
Kwara vs U-17 National Team
Ogun vs Kaduna
In the women’s football matches, the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) defeated Enugu 1-0 thanks to a 10th-minute goal by Mariam Yahaya. Lagos also advanced after a 2-1 win over Abia.
Team Kaduna’s male and female beach volleyball teams remained unbeaten, earning spots in the semifinals at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena.
The women beat Zamfara in straight sets, while the men won 2-0 against Borno. So far, the Kaduna women’s team has not lost a single set in the competition.
With athletics and more final events ongoing, the medal table may still change.
Delta will need to stay strong to keep its top spot, while Bayelsa and Rivers will be pushing hard to catch up.
The 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival continues to show off fresh talents, including 13-year-old swimmer Michelle Ibidapo and strong team efforts in various sports. The fight for Nigeria’s sports crown is far from over.
