Team Bayelsa has been crowned the overall winner of the inaugural Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF), staging a dramatic upset over traditional sports giants, Delta and Edo States, in a closely contested medal battle that went down to the final events in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
In what many sports analysts have called a stunning achievement, Bayelsa’s athletes delivered standout performances across various disciplines to clinch the top spot on the medal table with 42 gold medals — narrowly edging out Delta State, who finished just behind with 41 gold medals. Bayelsa also claimed 29 silver and 15 bronze medals, for a total haul of 86.
The week-long sports festival, organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), brought together over 3,000 athletes from the nine states of the Niger Delta region. It featured 17 different sporting events and served as a platform to promote grassroots talent, foster regional unity, and encourage healthy competition.
Delta State, despite winning the highest overall number of medals with 99, had to settle for second place due to Bayelsa’s superior gold medal tally. Delta ended the competition with 41 gold, 26 silver, and 32 bronze medals.
Edo State finished third on the table with a total of 89 medals — 23 gold, 35 silver, and 31 bronze — putting them just behind the two front-runners.
Rivers State came fourth with 63 medals, including 21 gold, while Ondo State secured fifth position with 43 medals. Host state Akwa Ibom placed sixth with 37 medals.
Abia State finished in seventh place with 32 medals, while Imo State ranked eighth with 42 medals but fewer gold medals than Abia. Cross River State completed the medal standings in ninth position with 31 medals.
Bayelsa’s historic victory is already being hailed as a major boost for sports development within the state, with many praising the commitment, resilience, and consistency displayed by its athletes throughout the competition.
The successful hosting of the first edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival has generated excitement for future editions. Organisers and sports enthusiasts alike are calling for an expanded and even more competitive second edition, building on the impressive achievements recorded in Uyo and the momentum generated by Bayelsa’s fairytale triumph.
