Nigeria has been granted hosting rights for a six-nation wheelchair softball tournament by the International Wheelchair Softball Federation, marking the first time such an event will be held in Africa.
President of the Wheelchair Softball Federation of Nigeria (WSFN), Sunday Odion, confirmed the development, noting that interest from the United States, the Netherlands, and Japan could expand the tournament to nine participating nations.
“The international body has given us the hosting right for a six-nation tournament. However, the US, the Netherlands, and Japan have also expressed interest, which could bring the total to nine,” Odion stated.
He highlighted the significance of hosting the event, particularly in terms of technical assistance for Nigeria and other African nations. He emphasized the opportunity to train coaches and officials locally at a reduced cost compared to overseas training programs.
“This will come with technical support from the International Federation to train our coaches. Instead of sending two coaches to the US at a high cost, we can train 20 to 40 coaches here,” he explained.
Odion also noted that other African countries could benefit by sending their coaches and officials for training, enhancing the overall development of wheelchair softball on the continent.
Appealing for support, he called on Nigerians to invest in sports development, not just for wheelchair softball but for other disciplines as well.
“We are counting on Nigerians who have the means to support sports—not just softball but other sports as well,” he urged.
The tournament is expected to leave a lasting legacy for wheelchair softball in Africa, positioning Nigeria as a key player in adaptive sports development and fostering international collaboration in the field.