Bayelsa ends Delta dominance, wins maiden NDSF to lay down marker ahead of National Sports Festival
Bayelsa state has been crowned winners of the maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival, ending the dominance of Delta state in sports in Nigeria.
Led by the frugal, professional, and intelligent Daniel Igali, the state’s Sports Commissioner, Bayelsa state won a total of 86 medals made up of 42 gold, 29 silver and 15 bronze medals, edging Delta state by one gold medal. Hosts, Akwa Ibom came in third with nine gold, 14 silver, and bronze medals.
FINAL MEDAL TABLE 2025 NDSF
State Gold Silver Bronze Total
Bayelsa 42 29 15 86
Delta 41 26 32 99
Edo 23 35 31 89
Rivers 21 16 26 63
Ondo 10 18 15 43
Akwa Ibom 9 14 14 37
Abia 9 10 13 32
Imo 6 12 24 42
CRS 5 7 19 31
Bayelsa state’s profile has grown geometrically since Igali was appointed the Sports Commissioner and was padded out of winning the 22nd National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta state in 2022 in an event characterised by unprecedented medal padding.
Igali and Bayelsa state will have the opportunity to prove their win at the Niger Delta Sports Festival is not by happenstance, and they can be assured of a level playing field devoid of the kind of chicanery that played out in Asaba three years ago.
