Organisers of Eko 2026 say the inaugural edition will feature an event framework intended to expose “athlete-poaching” states, according to Yusuf Alli. The organisers expect participation from athletes across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with additional athletes from the diaspora.
Premium Times reports that organisers expect more than 14,000 athletes for the tournament. The Punch adds that the plan is framed around comparing states’ grassroots development efforts with states accused of recruiting athletes instead of building local youth pipelines. Across the coverage, the emphasis is on youth sports development and on identifying which states invest in nurturing athletes at the grassroots level versus those seen as pulling talent from elsewhere.
Both outlets attribute the initiative to Yusuf Alli and present it as part of the goals for Eko 2026’s first edition, linking the event’s structure to transparency around talent development and recruitment practices.
