By Emmanuel Enebeli
CALABAR/Nigeria: Team Delta has arrived in Calabar, Cross River State, for the South-South zonal elimination as the state’s athletes begin their quest for qualification to the national stage.
About 400 athletes and 63 technical officials are representing Delta at the zonal competition, which commenced in Calabar ahead of the state’s participation in the Enugu 2026 National Sports Festival.
The Team Delta contingent comprises athletes, coaches, technical officials and other members of the delegation who arrived in Calabar ahead of the competition.
The South-South zonal elimination for the National Intermediate Games is scheduled to end on September 12, after which attention will shift to the zonal elimination for the Enugu 2026 National Sports Festival.
The competition provides athletes from the South-South region with an opportunity to secure places at the national level and showcase their abilities against competitors from other states in the zone.
For Delta, the outing is another opportunity to maintain the state’s strong presence in Nigerian sports and provide emerging athletes with a platform to compete at higher levels.
The state’s delegation will be hoping that its athletes can convert their preparations into strong performances and qualification tickets.
The development is particularly significant for young athletes seeking national exposure, as success at the zonal level could open the way to greater opportunities in their sporting careers.
Team Delta’s participation in Calabar comes as the state continues its preparations for the Enugu 2026 National Sports Festival, making the zonal competition an important early test for the state’s sporting programme.
