19th NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL COMPLETE REPORT
The 19th National Sports Festival took place in Abuja from 6th to 16th December 2018 at Cricket ovals, package B’ National Stadium. For the first time in history, Cricket event featured both male and female categories. There were loads of exciting games and unbelievable results while new talents were also discovered during the games. Other historic moment includes the official launching of the first Turf wicket pitch in Nigeria and the whole of North-West Africa.
After a series of eliminations from 5 geo-political zones of the country, six (6) male and five (5) female teams qualified for the finals in Abuja.
QUALIFIED STATES FROM THE ZONES
| S/N | STATE | MALE | FEMALE |
| 1 | LAGOS STATE | MALE | FEMALE |
| 2 | KADUNA STATE | MALE | – |
| 3 | EDO STATE | MALE | FEMALE |
| 4 | ANAMBRA | MALE | – |
| 5 | EBONYI STATE | – | FEMALE |
| 6 | KWARA STATE | MALE | – |
| 7 | TEAM FCT | MALE | FEMALE |
| 8 | JIGAWA STATE | – | FEMALE |
TEAMS ARRIVAL AND TECHNICAL MEETING
All State teams arrived between 6th and 7th December. a technical meeting was held on 7th December between the officials and coaches/captains of the teams. Agreed format of the tournament was T-20 for both Male and Female categories. The male category was divided into 2 groups and female was a round robin with the top 2 teams to play finals and the 2nd and 3rd position to play for bronze.
Lagos and Kaduna State teams were seeded from the last N.C.F National Men’s Championship where they both emerged as 1st and 2nd position respectively.
MALE CATEGORY
| GROUP A | GROUP B |
| LAGOS STATE | KADUNA STATE |
| ANAMBRA STATE | EDO STATE |
| KWARA STATE | TEAM FCT |
The men’s event began on the 8th of December which also marked the official Launch of the 1st International turf wicket pitch in Nigeria, the stage was set for records history to be made. The first game on the pitch was Lagos State vs Kwara State. The female event started on the 9th at pitch 2.
TECHNICAL OFFICIALS FOR THE TOURNAMENT
- Enesi Habib Amoto (Umpire)
- Musa Ehizoje Bodie (Umpire)
- Olabinmwonnu Kehinde (Umpire)
- Oladunjoye Taiwo (Umpire)
- Adekoya Wale (Umpire)
- Obasi Charles (Umpire)
- Agbonwanegbe Nosa (Umpire)
- Kelechi Joel (Scorer)
- Ategeka Francis (Grounds man)
- Yakubu Peter (Grounds man)
PLAYING CONTROL TEAM (PCT) SEMINAR
The playing control team which comprises of umpires and scorers for the Festival had a seminar which is consistent with international standards to refresh and roll over certain playing conditions to be adopted for the competition. Topics on sensitive areas were also presented by various umpires and discussed by the group.
GAMES PROPER (MALE CATEGORY)
MATCH 1: LAGOS STATE vs KWARA STATE
Lagos State won the toss and elected to field first sending in Kwara State to bat. Kwara State scored 73 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 20 overs.
In the second innings, Lagos State chased down the score to record 77 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in 10.2 overs.
Lagos State won by 8 wickets.
OTHER HISTORIC MOMENTS
- First Umpires to officiate on the turf wicket (Musa Ehizoje and Enesi Habib Amoto)
- First teams to play on the turf wicket (Lagos State vs Kwara State)
- First Captain to win a toss on the turf wicket (Abiodun Abioye) Lagos State
- First player to deliver a ball on the turf wicket (Omozejele Frank) Lagos State
- First wicket taken (Omozejele Frank) Lagos State
- First 4 runs boundary scored (Akolade Yusuf) Kwara State
- First 6 runs boundary scored (Ayinde Tunde) Lagos State
GAME 2: F.C.T vs KADUNA STATE
Team FCT won the toss and elected to firld first sending in Kaduna State to bat. Kaduna scored a total of 157 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 20 overs.
In the second innings, F.C.T could only manage a meager score of 64 runs all out in 13.5 overs.
Kaduna State won by 93 runs
DAY 2
MATCH 3: ANAMBRA STATE vs KWARA STATE
Kwara State won the toss and elected to bat first and scored a total of 64 runs all out in 15.4 overs
In the second innings, Anambra chased down the runs to record a total of 66 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in 15.5 overs
Anambra State won by 6 wickets
MATCH 4: TEAM F.C.T vs EDO STATE
Edo State won the Toss and Elected to bat putting up a score of 91 runs all out in 19.1 overs
In the second innings, FCT chased down the score in the last over to record a total of 92 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 19.1 overs
FCT won by 1 wicket
DAY 3: MATCH 5
LAGOS STATE vs ANAMBRA STATE
Anambra State won the toss and elected to field sending in Lagos State to bat. Lagos scored a total of 162 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs.
In the second innings, Anambra State could only respond with a score of 103 runs all out in 16.5 overs
Lagos State won by 59 runs.
MATCH 6: EDO STATE vs KADUNA STATE
Edo State won the toss and elected to bat scoring a total of 102 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 20 overs.
In the second innings, Kaduna State chased down the scored to record a total of 103 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in 15.1 overs
Kaduna State won by 8 wickets
From the group A and B games, Kaduna and Lagos States had both won 2 matches topping their respective groups. Team F.C.T and Anambra State both qualified as runners up while Edo State and Kwara State both made early exists from the Festival after losing 2 games each.
Top team from both groups played for the gold medal and runners up played for bronze medal.
GAME 7: BRONZE MEDAL MATCH
ANAMBRA STATE vs TEAM FCT
Anambra State won the toss and elected to field sending in FCT to bat. F.C T scored a total of 103 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 20 overs.
In the second innings, Anambra State battled hard to claw back into the game after a dismay start to record a well-deserved victory over Team FCT scoring 105 runs fie the loss of 8 wickets in 19 overs.
Anambra State won by 2 wickets to win bronze medal
FINAL MATCH
LAGOS STATE vs KADUNA STATE
The final match was tagged “CLASH OF THE TITANS” as the old bitter rivalry continued between Lagos and Kaduna State. In the 2012 Eko Festival, Kaduna State lost narrowly to Lagos State on technical grounds. Most recently in the N.C.F National Male Championship 2017 in Lagos, Kaduna State also fell agonizingly short of the required total to beat Lagos State to the trophy.
In the Finals of the 2018 National Sports Festival, Kaduna State was on a mission to have the final laugh over Lagos State.
FINAL MATCH SUMMARY
Lagos State won the toss and elected to bat first scoring a disappointing total of 114 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs.
Seye Olympio was the best performer with the bat for Lagos with 29 runs of 34 balls.
In the second innings, Kaduna State were off to a bright start with a formidable partnership between Yusuf Gershon and Danladi Isaac. Fall of wickets to both openers brought Lagos back into the game for a short while before Daniel Gim and Okpe Sylvester took control putting Lagos under immense pressure. Sylvester Okpe lost his wicket and surprisingly, not batsman could anchor with Daniel Gim to build a partnership that will get Kaduna over the line. In the end, yet again, Kaduna State fell short of the required total to record a total score of 108 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs
Lagos State won by 6 runs winning the Gold Medal
FINAL MEDAL TABLE (MALE)
| S/N | STATE | MEDAL |
| 1 | LAGOS STATE | GOLD |
| 2 | KADUNA STATE | SILVER |
| 3 | ANAMBRA STATE | BRONZE |
FEMALE CATEGORY
The Female category was a round robin format with the top 2 teams to play for Gold and the 3rd and 4th placed team to play for bronze. Team positions were decided by points and where necessary, Net Run Rate was employe
Match 1 (FEMALE) 9th December 2018
JIGAWA STATE vs EBONYI STATE.
Jigawa State won the Toss and elected to field first sending in Ebonyi State to bat. Ebonyi State scored a total of 55 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs.
In the second Innings, Jigawa State chased the required total to record a score of 56 runs for the loss of 1 Wicket after 7.3 Overs.
Man of the Match: Grace Ephraim of Jigawa State scored 23 Runs off 25 Balls
Jigawa Statwon by 9 Wickets.
MATCH 2: (EDO STATE VS F.C.T)
FCT won the toss and elected to bat scoring a total of 55 runs all out in 15.3 overs.
In the second innings, Edo State scored 56 runs for the loss of 1 Wicket after 9.2 Overs.
Man of the match: Favour Eseigbe of Edo State Scored 13 Runs Not Out off 26 balls and 2 Wickets for 10 runs in 3.3 Overs
Edo State won by 9 Wickets
10th December 2018 (MATCH 3)
LAGOS STATE VS EBONYI STATE
Lagos State won the Toss and elected to bat first scoring an impressive total of 135 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs.
In the second Innings, Ebonyi State could only manage a meager score of 78 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs.
Lagos State won by 57 Runs
EDO STATE VS JIGAWA STATE (MATCH 4)
Jigawa State won the Toss and elected to field first sending in Edo State to bat. Edo State scored a whooping total of 160 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 20 overs.
In the second innings, jigawa State could only manage a total of 73 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs.
Man of the Match: Chinelo George of Edo State Scored 53 runs Not Out off 55 Balls
Edo State won by 87 Runs
December 11th 2018 (MATCH 5)
LAGOS STATE VS EDO STATE
Edo State won the toss and elected to bat first scoring a total of 143 runs for the loss of 1 wicket in 20 overs.
In the second innings, Lagos state had a late resurgence that was not enough and finally recorded a total of 105 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 20 overs
Man of the Match: Favour Esiegbe of Edo State Scored 48 runs off 59 Balls and took 4 Wickets for 12 runs in 4 Overs).
Edo State won by 37 runs
MATCH 6
F.C.T VS JIGAWA STATE
Jigawa State won the toss and elected to bat first scoring a total of 102 runs all out in 17.1 overs
In the second innings, FCT fell short of the required total and scored a total of 71 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 20 overs
Man of the Match: Blessing Nwobodo of Jigawa Scored 21 runs off 29 balls and got 2 wickets for 6 runs in 2 Overs.
Jigawa State won by 31 runs
LAGOS STATE VS JIGAWA STATE
Jigawa State won the toss and elected to bat first scoring a total of 113 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 20 overs.
In the second innings Lagos scored 84 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs
Jigawa State won by 29 Runs
FCT vs EBONYI STATE (1:30pm).
Ebonyi State won the toss and elected to field first sending in F.C.T to bat. FCT scored a total of 177 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 20 overs.
In the second innings, Ebonyi State could only manage a total score of 68 runs all out in 14.1 overs.
FCT won by 109 runs
EBONYI STATE vs EDO STATE
Ebonyi State won the toss and elected to bat first scoring a total of 25 runs all out in 9 overs.
In the second innings, Edo State scored 28 runs for the loss of 1 wicket in 2.5 overs
Edo State won by 9 Wickets.
LAGOS STATE vs FCT
FCT won the toss and elected to bat first putting up a total of 82 runs all out in 19.2 overs.
In the second innings, Lagos State chased down the total to trecord 84 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 14.2 overs
Lagos State won by 7 wickets.
POINTS TABLE AND NET RUN RATE AFTER ROUND ROBIN STAGE
| S/N | TEAMS | PLAYED | WIN | LOSE | TIE | NRR | POINTS |
| 1 | EDO STATE | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | +4.195 | 8 |
| 2 | JIGAWA STATE | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | +0.47 | 6 |
| 3 | LAGOS STATE | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | +0.312 | 4 |
| 4 | F.C.T | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | -0.062 | 2 |
| 5 | EBONYI STATE | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | -5.063 | 0 |
BRONZE MEDAL MATCH
FCT vs LAGOS STATE
Lagos State won the toss and elected bat first scoring a total of 126 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 20 overs.
Ruth Ayannaike was the star player for Lagos with an unbeaten 49 run not out off 47 balls.
In the second innings, FCT ladies fought hard with a late onslaught but fell agonisging short of the required total to record a score of 112 runs all out in 18.5 overs.
Ruth Ayannaike was also the best performer for Lagos State with 3 wickets.
Lagos state won by 14 runs to win the Bronze Medal
FINAL MATCH
EDO STATE vs JIGAWA STATE
Edo State won the toss and elected to bat first scoring a total of 118 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 20 overs
In the second innings, the bowling class and technical ability of the Edo State team was too much for Jigawa state who struggled to build a decent partnership throughout the innings. Jigawa state eventually scored a 77 runs all out in 18.3 overs
Agatha Obulor of Edo State was voted man of the match with 25 Runs not out off 33 balls and 2 wickets for 13 runs in 3.3 overs.
Edo State won by 41 Runs to win the Gold Medal
FINAL MEDAL TABLE (FEMALE)
| S/N | STATE | MEDAL |
| 1 | EDO STATE | GOLD |
| 2 | JIGAWA STATE | SILVER |
| 3 | LAGOS STATE | BRONZE |
The finals of the women’s event brought the Cricket event in the festival to an end with lots of thrills and memories that will linger for a long time.
Dignitaries present include
- Deputy Governor of Edo State
- Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development
- Directors from the FMYSD
- President of the Federation
- Director of Edo State Sports Commission
- Board members of the Federation etc.
STATISTICS OF PLAYERS , COACHES TECHNICAL OFFICIALS AND STAFF IN ATTENDANCE
PLAYERS
MALE———————————84
FEMALE——————————-70
TECHNICAL OFFICIALS————10
COACHES——————————22
STAFF OF FEDERATION————14
MUSA EHIZOJE BODIE
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER (NCF)