- Kaduna State has reaffirmed its position as Nigeria’s undisputed hockey powerhouse as the state’s male and female teams, Kada Stars and Kada Queens, continue their remarkable dominance on both the national and West African stage, a feat attributed to the sustained commitment of Governor Senator Uba Sani to sports development.
The latest triumph came at the 2026 National Hockey Super League finals held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, where Kada Stars retained the men’s title after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Plateau Tigers to claim a record fifth consecutive championship. Kada Queens also successfully defended the women’s title with a convincing 2-0 win over Plateau Queens, securing their fourth straight league crown.
Earlier in the year, both teams extended Kaduna’s winning tradition beyond Nigeria by emerging champions in the men’s and women’s categories of the 2026 Median HFS West Africa Invitational Challenge Cup in Accra, Ghana. The double victory further strengthened Kaduna State’s reputation as the leading centre of hockey excellence in Nigeria and one of the strongest forces in West African hockey.
The Permanent Secretary and Overseer of the Kaduna State Ministry of Sports Development, Mrs. Dorcas I. B. Tanko, described the achievements as a reflection of Governor Uba Sani’s unwavering commitment to building a vibrant sports sector through sustained investment in athlete welfare, modern sporting facilities, quality coaching and grassroots talent development. She noted that the administration’s deliberate policies have created an enabling environment for athletes to thrive and consistently deliver outstanding results at national and international competitions.
Mrs. Tanko said the sustained success of Kada Stars and Kada Queens, who have remained unbeaten champions since the 2023 National Hockey Super League season, demonstrates the effectiveness of the Governor’s vision for sports development.
She added that Kaduna’s contribution of eight players to the national female hockey team and ten players to the men’s national team underscores the state’s leadership in nurturing talents for Nigeria. She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to consolidating these gains by expanding talent development programmes and providing the support needed to ensure Kaduna remains the nation’s home of hockey and a model of sporting excellence.
