By Joel Ajayi
President of the Nigeria Hockey Federation (NHF), Engr. Simon Nkom, has described the 2026 Hockey Super League as the most successful edition in the competition’s history, citing the high standard of play, record participation and the calibre of stakeholders who attended the championship.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the league on Saturday in Abuja at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Nkom said the championship marked another significant milestone in the growth and development of hockey in Nigeria.
“I would describe this championship and the closing ceremony as the best ever,” Nkom said.
“It is not just about the number of people present, but the quality of those who came to support the competition. Everyone here understands the importance of developing hockey in Nigeria.”
The NHF president also announced a major infrastructure upgrade for the sport, revealing that the National Sports Commission (NSC), with the support of the Federal Government, has approved the replacement of the country’s ageing hockey pitch with a modern blue artificial turf that meets international standards.
According to him, the existing playing surface, installed for the 2003 All Africa Games, has served the country for more than two decades despite extensive use for both sporting and non-sporting activities.
“The current turf has been in use since the 2003 All Africa Games. It has endured years of heavy usage, but international hockey is now played on blue artificial turf. The new surface will improve visibility for players, officials, spectators and television viewers, while also enhancing the quality of the game,” he explained.
Nkom noted that the project forms part of the Federal Government’s commitment, through the National Sports Commission, to upgrading sports infrastructure across the country.
The federation president also highlighted the steady progress of Nigeria’s national hockey teams, saying the era of heavy defeats to traditional African powerhouses such as South Africa and Egypt is gradually becoming a thing of the past.
“There was a time Nigeria suffered defeats by margins of 7-0, 9-0 and even 10-0. Today, those same teams know they must work hard to beat Nigeria. Our performances have improved significantly because our players are gradually adapting to modern playing surfaces,” he said.
Nkom further disclosed that the federation is collaborating with corporate partners to install additional artificial turfs across the country, a move aimed at expanding grassroots participation, improving player development and strengthening Nigeria’s competitiveness on the continental and global stage.
“More artificial turfs will produce more players, and more players will translate into greater success for Nigerian hockey,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kada Stars of Kaduna State once again underlined their dominance in Nigerian hockey by winning the 2026 Hockey Super League title, extending their remarkable reign to six consecutive championships and claiming a record ninth league crown.
The Kaduna-based side completed a flawless campaign, winning all eight of their league matches to finish with a maximum 24 points. They capped their impressive season with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Plateau Tigers in their final match at the Hockey Pitch of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on Saturday.
Their consistency, discipline and attacking quality saw them finish comfortably ahead of their closest challengers. Police Machine secured second place on the final standings, while Plateau Tigers finished third.
In the women’s category, Kada Queens also emerged champions after accumulating 16 points to complete a memorable league double for Kaduna State. Plateau Queens finished as runners-up, while Delta claimed third place.
The outstanding performances of both Kada Stars and Kada Queens further reinforced Kaduna State’s status as the leading force in Nigerian hockey, reflecting the success of its player development programmes and sustained excellence in the sport.
