Five-time world champions Golden Eaglets and FIFA World Cup-bound Flamingos have been adding colour and panache to the ongoing 22^nd National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The two teams are part of the exciting new concept of IJA (Invited Junior Athletes) which has drawn praise from observers and stakeholders since the commencement of the Games.

The Golden Eaglets are in a three-team pool, and have already shot their way to the quarter-finals of the football event after a 2-1 win over Edo State on Monday, and a scoreless draw with Delta State on Tuesday. Abdulmuiz Adeleke and Mohammed Imrana were the scorers for the Eaglets.

The Flamingos, who flew over and above South Africa and Algeria to reach their eighth FIFA World Cup finals, drew 0-0 with Abia State on Monday and defeated Delta State 1-0 on Tuesday. Defender Jumai Adebayo was the scorer.

On Thursday, the Flamingos will take on Lagos State, and conclude their attrition in group B with a game against Enugu State on Saturday.

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Quadri Aruna underlined his elite status at the 2025 ITTF World Championships with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Germany’s Benedikt Duda, securing his place in the fourth round of the Men’s Singles at the Lusail Hall in Doha, Qatar.

The Nigerian star, now the sole African contender in the Men’s Singles following the exit of Egypt’s Omar Assar in the second round on Monday, May 19, delivered a commanding performance against the left-handed German.

Despite trailing 1-2 in their previous head-to-head encounters, Aruna rose to the occasion in a match filled with fast-paced rallies and crowd-pleasing exchanges. He opened strongly, taking the first set 11-9, but Duda responded with a dominant 11-4 win in the second.

Aruna adjusted his tactics in the third set, targeting Duda’s forehand and regaining control with an 11-8 win. A controversial service fault call at 2-2 in the fourth set appeared to rattle the Nigerian, who dropped the game 11-2.

However, Aruna showcased remarkable composure and resilience in the fifth set. Trailing 3-9, he mounted a stunning comeback to level at 9-9 and eventually clinched the set 12-10. That momentum carried into the sixth, where Aruna’s confidence soared. With powerful forehand loops and precise shot placement, he closed out the match 11-9 to seal a 4-2 victory.

Even the match commentators were full of praise for Aruna’s spirited comeback and tactical brilliance, highlighting his poise under pressure and ability to turn the tide when it mattered most.

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At their first ever participation in the National Sports Festival, the 38th team, Invited Junior Athletes, code-named IJA are already making moves.

They are already setting marks as the first medal of the Gateway Games was won by an IJA athlete.

They denied the elite athletes four medals as they have won two Gold, one silver and one bronze medal within the first two days of the Games.

Amarachi Chijioke and Scholastical Tekumbur made history winning the two gold, one silver and one bronze in the 45kg women category.

Chijioke claimed two gold medals in clean and jerk with the best lift of 82kg, while Tekumbur also claimed the bronze in clean and jerk.

The National Sports Commission, NSC, has continued to receive plenty of accolades for the IJA initiative introduced to the festival as the 38th State, and the early performance of the junior athletes within the first two days of the Games is already justifying the essence of the concept.

The NSC introduced the Invited junior athletes concept so that Nigeria can start having a unique and scientific transition system between the upcoming junior athletes and the elite athletes.

Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, maintained that the IJA concept was designed to tie grassroots to elite Sports by bridging the transition gap that has existed in the past.

“Ninety per cent of the kids representing IJA are champions from the youth games, and the ones that have upset the status quo by winning these medals have automatically been elevated to elite status and qualify for elite grants that will prepare them for the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Championships next year”.

” Being the first time, we are having this concept, we never expected them to win medals but just to get exposure by competing with the elite athletes, but we can see with the four medals already won that the junior athletes we brought for this Games are fancying their chances with the big boys”.

Thirty-eight junior athletes across different sports are representing the Invited Junior Athletes, IJA, at the Gateway Games.

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