By Ado Salisu
Preparations for the 23rd National Sports Festival, Coal City Games 2026, to be hosted by Enugu State, are gathering momentum as zonal eliminations for team sports are scheduled to take place across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones from September 12 to 15, 2026.
The eliminations, which constitute a key qualification stage ahead of the Festival, will feature basketball, cricket, football, volleyball and beach volleyball in both male and female categories.
In line with the Festival’s rules, the first- and second-placed teams from each zone will qualify for the National Sports Festival, while the host state, Enugu, will enjoy automatic qualification in all the featured team sports.
The Main Organising Committee (MOC) has directed zonal coordinators to commence preparations and submit proposed venues for the competitions, while ensuring strict adherence to the Games’ rules and regulations to guarantee fair play and a level playing field for all participating teams.
The 23rd National Sports Festival, themed “Excellence, Sportsmanship and Unity,” is scheduled to hold from November 27 to December 11, 2026.
