The road to the 2027 National Intermediate Games has begun in the Northeast, with the zonal elimination for team sports getting underway in Damaturu, Yobe State

The sixth edition of the Northeastern Zonal Elimination officially commenced at the August 27 Stadium, Damaturu, bringing together young athletes from the six states in the region.

The three-day championship, running from September 10 to 12, 2026, is being organised as part of the National Sports Commission’s grassroots sports development programme.

Athletes from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and host state Yobe are competing for qualification spots in nine team sports.

The events on the programme are football, hockey, handball, rugby, indoor volleyball, cricket, basketball, beach volleyball and Abula.

Speaking with journalists at the opening ceremony, National Sports Commission Northeast Zonal Coordinator, Musa Garba, said the competition is targeted at athletes between the ages of 16 and 19.

Garba explained that the championship is designed to provide young athletes with an avenue to showcase their abilities while creating a structured pathway towards national-level competition.

According to him, the zonal elimination is an important component of the Commission’s strategy to identify promising talents at the grassroots and expose them to higher levels of competition.

“The first and second-placed teams in each event will qualify to represent the Northeast zone at the National Intermediate Games in Lagos, scheduled for 2027,” Garba said.

The qualification places are expected to intensify competition among the participating states, with teams battling not only for zonal honours but also for the opportunity to represent the region on the national stage.

Garba also called on participating states, officials and athletes to respect the regulations governing the competition, stressing that strict compliance with the rules would help guarantee a smooth and successful championship.

The National Intermediate Games are part of the Federal Government’s broader grassroots sports development initiative aimed at creating a sustainable pipeline for identifying and nurturing young sporting talents.

For the Northeast, the Damaturu elimination represents another opportunity to strengthen that pipeline by giving athletes between 16 and 19 years a competitive platform before they progress to higher levels of national and elite sports.

With qualification for the 2027 National Intermediate Games in Lagos at stake, attention will now shift to the various sporting venues across Damaturu as the young athletes compete for a place among the Northeast’s representatives at the national finals.