By Victor Okoye
The 2nd Inter-State Fives Unity Cup Championship ended in Abuja on Sunday, with Kebbi State emerging overall champions.
Kebbi dominated the tournament, winning all four trophies in the senior, intermediate, junior, and female categories.
Katsina State finished second with three medals, Kaduna placed third with two medals, while host Abuja came fourth with one medal.
Special awards were introduced by the Abuja Fives Club in honour of late Alh. Ismaila Funtua, and late Amb. Abubakar Udu.
Ahmed Abdullahi, known as Henry, from Katsina, won the Best Player award of the championship.
Abubakar Abdullahi, popularly called Qalqal, of Abuja Fives Club, was named the Most Improved Player.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the President of the Fives Federation, Abubakar Dangaladima, praised the tournament’s growth and organisation.
“This championship shows how far Fives has come. The quality of play keeps improving, and the passion is spreading,” Dangaladima said.
He reaffirmed the Federation’s resolve to take the sport to more states across the country.
“Our goal is to make Fives a truly national sport, played and celebrated beyond its traditional strongholds,” he added.
A total of 23 matches were played over five days, with winners receiving various cash prizes and trophies.
Fives, historically played in Northern Nigeria and popularised by Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, is now gaining ground nationwide.
States such as Delta, Bayelsa, Imo, Lagos, and Ogun have begun embracing the sport in recent years.
Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Muhammad Ladan, described the event as a major success.
“We recorded strong participation, smooth logistics, and exciting matches. Abuja is proud to host this growing competition,” Ladan said.
He thanked participating states, officials, and sponsors for supporting the unity and development objectives of the championship.
The Inter-State Fives Unity Cup is designed to promote unity, youth engagement,and the revival of indigenous Nigerian sports.(NAN)
Edited by Joseph Edeh
