The Dolphin Swimming League has grown significantly into a thriving grassroots competition featuring 23 schools and swimming clubs, with young swimmers getting an opportunity to showcase their skills.

Oliver Ohieng, Marabou News Agency

Nigeria’s premier inter-school swimming competition, the Dolphin Swimming League season 8 began on a successful note at Grange School in Lagos, over the weekend, attracting hundreds of young swimmers, cheered on by parents and guardians who turned out to support the athletes.

Recognised as Nigeria’s foremost inter-school competition, the swimming league is organised by Dynaspro Promotions Limited in partnership with Advanta Interactive Limited and sanctioned by the Nigeria Aquatics Federation, the Nigeria Olympic Committee, the Nigeria School Sport Federation and the Lagos State Swimming Association.

Started in 2018 with just five schools, the Dolphin Swimming League has grown significantly into a thriving grassroots competition featuring 23 schools and swimming clubs.

This season also welcomed participants from Abuja, highlighting the league’s expanding national reach.

Graduates of the Dolphin Swimming League have advanced to represent Nigeria at regional, continental, and junior international competitions.

A notable name is Abduljabar Adama, who became the first swimmer from Nigeria to win an international medal at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Romania.

The 17-year-old sensation is set to represent Africa’s population at the upcoming 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13.

Nseobong Samuel Jesimiel, technical representative of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation praised the swimming league’s impact on youth swimming development.

“And I want to thank Grange School too for giving us this opportunity and fixing their pool to make it look better. The situation now and the challenges is that we have more schools, more clubs to handle. Instead of the normal 10, 11, we have over 23 schools and clubs. That means the Dolphin League is going higher. Record-breaking, record-breaking and record-breaking,” he said.

Parents at the event also commended organisers for creating a safe, disciplined and motivating environment. They noted that the league promotes a healthy lifestyle and encourages children to challenge themselves and strive for excellence.

“Yeah, I must commend whatever support Grange School has put together to make this happen. I think funding is key. We will continue to do our best to support as much as we can as parents, but this competition comes very handy, very helpful and because of health and fitness. I think it’s something we’ll continue to do as we progress in life. Well, done,” said Haruna Onu, a parent.

The season is expected to end toward mid-2027. With growing participation, expanding reach and increasing recognition, the Dolphin Swimming League continues to establish itself as a vital platform for developing the next generation of swimming talents in Nigeria.

Marabou News Agency

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Nigeria is among 7 African teams that will compete at the World Cup, alongside Liberia, Algeria, Egypt, Angola, Ghana and Morocco.

Oliver Ochieng, Marabou News Agency

The Nigeria men’s national amputee football team, the Special Eagles are intensifying training in Abuja, ahead of the 2026 Amputee World Cup. Mexico will host this year’s edition, from November 13-22 in San Juan De Los Lagos.

Special Eagles’ captain Sarafadeen Olalekan Oyeleke says the players are putting all efforts in training to be ready for the competition, with support from the National Sports Commission as well as the Nigeria Amputee Football Federation.

“We are trying to put all our best to intensify our training, as well as following the instruction of the technical department so that we can understand more of the technicality of the game ahead of the work-up,” the captain said.

“So, there have been a lot of things put in place and also the federation has also made it possible to invite all our national team players playing professional football in Turkey as well as other places so that we can have a formidable team to be able to compete at the World Cup.”

Nigeria is among 7 African teams that will compete at the World Cup, alongside Liberia, Algeria, Egypt, Angola, Ghana and Morocco. In total, 24 teams will be in contention for the world title.

The draw was conducted on September 26, with hosts Mexico landing in group A alongside Italy, Liberia and Algeria. Turkey, Spain, Egypt and Nigeria will face each other in group B, while Brazil, Germany and Japan battle in pool C.

Group D comprises Angola, Ghana, Colombia and Iraq, group E has Uzbekistan, Morocco, USA and Uruguay while England, Poland, Iran and Costa Rica will come up against each other in pool F.

The tournament has been held every four years since 1986. Russia and Uzbekistan are the most successful sides with 5 titles each, followed by Brazil, England and El Salvador with three apiece.

Angola became the first African team to win the Amputee Football World Cup title in 2018 by defeating Turkey. In 2022, tables turned as Turkey beat Angola to claim the championship.

Marabou News Agency

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The league continues to serve as a vital platform for young talent, helping players advance to represent Uganda at youth and national team levels.

Edwin Kiplagat, Marabou News Agency

The 2026 UG20 League, Uganda’s premier T20 cricket league, is heating up as clubs across the country battle for playoff qualification.

Kutchi Tigers returned to the top of Group A on Sunday, September 27, 2026, after beating Kifaru Cricket Club by 147 runs at the Lugogo Cricket Oval.

Heavy morning rain forced the first match to be abandoned as a draw, giving Kutchi Tigers a win and a draw from the day’s fixtures. The result caps a strong recovery for the Tigers, who had struggled early on with two losses against Ismaili Community.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, the Tigers posted a strong total of 249 for six in 18 overs. Their bowlers then dismissed Kifaru for just 102 runs in 15 overs to complete a dominant 147-run victory.

“The season has not been bad for us. We started off with a loss, which hit us, but we managed to bounce back strong. Looking at today’s result, not the one we wanted or hoped for, but getting delayed in the morning because of the rain is something we cannot control. We came back and bounced back strong after lunch, scoring 250 runs in 18 overs,” Tigers player Steven Wabwose said.

After those two opening losses, Kutchi Tigers responded with a double victory over Soroti City Cricket Club, followed by Sunday’s draw and win against Kifaru, taking them to six points at the top of Group A, two points clear of Ismaili Community.

“We are looking to build on that in the coming games. The situation is not that good as it stands but we’re looking to make it much better in the few coming games. We are looking at getting out of the group stages, looking at playing the knockouts now,” Wabwose added.

Elsewhere in UG20, SKLPS CC lead Group B with four points, ahead of Wanderers CC and Centurion CC, who both have two points, while Chennai CC lead Group C. Group D is tightly contested, with Mukono Warriors CC, JACC, and Iganga CC all level on six points.

The semi-professional league started in 2024 with Ismaili Community lifting last year’s crown.

The league continues to serve as a vital platform for young talent, helping players advance to represent Uganda at youth and national team levels.

Marabou News Agency

The post Uganda Cricket League group stage heats up appeared first on Sports Network Africa.