The 1st National Teqball League, tagged “Aba 2026,” and sponsored by the Abia State Government, has ended in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia state, with Kahleed Yahaya and Funsho Sampson leading Team Abia to victories in Men Singles and Men Doubles respectively.
However, 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 reiterated the commitment of the state government towards supporting and sponsoring sporting events 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 the participants, athletes, coaches, referees. among others for making the event a success.
In his speech, the President, Nigeria Teqball Federation, Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel, said they would make the event to become more international by bringing in more countries 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, who appreciated Governor Alex Otti for hosting the competition, argued that since the inaugural edition was attended by 18 states, subsequent ones would surely 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 pointed out that Abia was chosen to host the competition, “because Abia at the moment is the safest state in Nigeria, adding that the Dr Otti is a working governor that is sincere and purposeful in his leadership style.
“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 medallists from Team Abia, Kahleed Yahaya, expressed excitement for emerging victorious and appreciated the state Governor, Dr Alex Otti, the chairman of the Teqball Association and fellow athletes.
According to him, his next target in teqball career is to go abroad and live his dreams.
