The 1st National Teqball League, sponsored by the Abia State Government and tagged “Aba 2026,” has successfully ended in Abia state with Kahleed Yahaya and Funsho Sampson leading Team Abia to emerge victorious in Men Singles and Men Doubles respectively .
Also, Musa Joshua and Gladys Abasi of Team Rivers won in Women Singles and Mixed Doubles while Team Delta topped the table in Women Doubles.
Speaking on Saturday, at the indoor hall of the Aba Sports Club, the Abia state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba assured of the commitment of Abia state government in supporting and sponsoring sports events in the state and developing sports in Abia.
The Commissioner represented by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Pastor Mrs Jane Igwe thanked Governor Alex Otti for his sustained support to sports and sporting activities in Abia state.
“I want to thank our sports loving governor, he has been a strong supporter of sports.
“Yesterday I was in our stadium for the closing ceremony of Handball. Every month we are having one good event going on. We want to thank him,” Sir Ananaba stated.
He thanked all the participants, the athletes, the coaches, the referees. among others for making the event a success.
Also speaking, the President, Nigeria Teqball Federation, Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel said they would make the event to become more international by bringing more countries from outside Nigeria to participate .
Engr. Gumel, represented by the Vice President of the Nigeria Teqball Federation and the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the First National Teqball League, “ABIA 2026”, Ndudi Edede, while appreciating Governor Alex Otti for hosting the competition, said that if the inaugural edition would be attended by 18;states of Nigeria, subsequent ones would attract more.
“This is the first edition and we’re able to attract 18 states to attend the event. So subsequently, the second edition, we aspire to have more states and probably more countries,”
He said that Abia was chosen to host the competition, “because Abia at the moment seems to be the safest state in Nigeria, also we have a working governor that is sincere and purposeful in his leadership style, he’s top-notch.
“We presented our proposal, what we want and he believed in our project and he gave us approval and asked us to come here. So that’s why we came to Abia and we’re happy to be in Abia.
“The government (Abia) has already gotten commendation on the 16th of March 2026 from the International Federation of Teqball and is the first state in Nigeria to be commended by such an international body”.
Contributing, the representative of South East on the board of Teqball Federation of Nigeria, Barr Victoria Nlemigbo said the tournament was more than a competition.
She expressed her gratitude to the government of Abia state, and Governor Otti for sponsoring and supporting the competition.
“The National League Tournament was not just a competition. It was a showcase of skill, technique, agility, resilience and a beautiful game of Teqball, united us all across Nigeria.
“You (Governor Otti ) actually surprised us with this unprecedented extent of support.
“Your support and commitment to sports development in Abia state and Nigeria as a whole is a standard for your contemporaries to emulate”.
In an interview, one of the gold medallist from Team Abia, Funso Saliu said he feels excited for emerging victorious and appreciated the state Governor, Dr Alex Otti, the chairman of the Teqball Association and fellow athletes. He disclosed that his next target in teqball career is to go abroad and live his dreams.
