By Joel Ajayi
Kada Stars of Kaduna State have reaffirmed their dominance in Nigerian hockey, clinching the 2026 Hockey Super League title to extend their remarkable reign to six consecutive championships and secure a record ninth league crown.
The Kaduna-based side completed a flawless campaign at the Hockey Pitch of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on Saturday, winning all eight of their league matches to finish with a perfect 24 points. They sealed the title in style with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Plateau Tigers in their final fixture.
Kada Stars’ consistency, discipline and attacking prowess ensured they finished comfortably ahead of the chasing pack. Police Machine ended the season in second place, while Plateau Tigers settled for third.
Kaduna State also celebrated success in the women’s category as Kada Queens emerged champions with 16 points to complete a memorable league double. Plateau Queens finished as runners-up, while Delta claimed third place.
The double triumph further reinforces Kaduna State’s reputation as a powerhouse of Nigerian hockey, reflecting the success of its grassroots development programmes and sustained investment in the sport.
Speaking during the closing ceremony, President of the Nigeria Hockey Federation, Engr. Simon Nkom, described the 2026 Hockey Super League as the most successful edition in the competition’s history, praising the standard of play, impressive turnout and quality of stakeholders in attendance.
“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 calibre of those who came to support the competition. Everyone here understands the importance of developing hockey in Nigeria.”
Nkom also announced a major boost for the sport, revealing that the National Sports Commission, 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 current playing surface, installed for the 2003 All Africa Games, has served Nigeria 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.
He noted that the project forms part of the Federal Government’s broader commitment, through the National Sports Commission, to upgrading sports infrastructure across the country.
The Hockey Federation president also highlighted the steady progress of Nigeria’s national hockey teams, stressing that the era of heavy defeats to continental heavyweights such as South Africa and Egypt is gradually becoming a thing of the past.
“There was a time Nigeria suffered defeats of 7-0, 9-0 and even 10-0 against some of the top teams in Africa. 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 and competing at a much higher level,” Nkom added.
