Defending champions Delta State remain firmly in control at the 2024 Gateway Games in Ogun, as the race for supremacy among Nigeria’s sporting powerhouses intensifies.
Delta lead the medal table with 76 medals – comprising 35 gold, 12 silver and 29 bronze – as they seek to retain the title won in the previous edition.
Bayelsa follow closely with 33 golds, 16 silvers and 17 bronzes (66 in total), while Rivers State occupy third place on 43 medals, including 17 gold. Hosts Ogun State sit fourth with a haul of 44 medals, among them 12 golds.
Oyo and Osun round out the top six, while Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Plateau remain in contention further down the standings.
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Elsewhere, the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) – a special contingent introduced to give younger competitors exposure at elite level – have made a promising start. The team has secured eight medals, including two golds, in a performance seen as a major boost for youth development in Nigerian sport.
Medals Table. Photo Credit: NSF
Edo State has also emerged as a notable performer, having claimed 38 silver medals the highest by any state thus far despite sitting in seventh with eight golds overall.
To date, a total of 516 medals have been awarded at the festival: 152 gold, 151 silver and 213 bronze.
Medals Table. Photo Credit: NSF
With several events yet to conclude, the standings remain subject to change. The final stretch of competition is expected to bring further drama as state teams push for podium finishes.
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The National Sports Festival, widely regarded as Nigeria’s foremost multi-sport event, continues to provide a platform for rising stars and established talents alike, celebrating excellence and state pride in equal measure.
