By: IDNN Sports Intelligence Unit
ABEOKUTA — It’s not just a competition. It’s a war of champions.
The battle for supremacy at the 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2025, has boiled down to two heavyweight states: Bayelsa and Delta.
As of Day 4, both states were tied with 53 medals each, but it’s the gold count that tells the real story — and right now, Bayelsa leads the charge.
🥇 The Numbers So Far
| STATE | 🥇 Gold | 🥈 Silver | 🥉 Bronze | 🏆 Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayelsa | 30 | 12 | 11 | 53 |
| Delta | 20 | 8 | 25 | 53 |
On paper, it’s neck and neck. But in strategic sports like weightlifting, swimming, and wrestling, Bayelsa has delivered clutch performances, racking up golds where Delta collected volume.
⚖️ Quantity vs Quality: The Rivalry Equation
Delta’s 25 bronze medals and 8 silvers are impressive, reflecting dominance in early rounds and semifinals. But gold wins championships — and Bayelsa is winning where it matters most.
Their tactical sweep in weightlifting (9 gold in one day) and standout swimming feats by Kolade Otunla and Tobiloba Omolola are reshaping the medal map.
Meanwhile, Delta’s edge lies in athletics and tennis, with Olympic prospects like Oyinlomo Quadre expected to tilt the final balance.
💥 It’s More Than Medals: It’s Political, Cultural, Personal
Both Bayelsa and Delta are South-South giants, with deep roots in sports development and talent pipelines that stretch from local academies to Olympic qualifiers.
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Delta are defending overall champions, famed for high-performance investment
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Bayelsa are the dark horses turned titans — building grassroots dominance from schools to elite
Insiders call it “the fiercest inter-state rivalry in Nigerian sports” — fuelled by pride, funding, and the relentless pursuit of federal recognition.
“We’re not just competing for medals,” one Bayelsa official told IDNN.
“We’re competing to be the standard for Nigerian sport.”
🔭 What Will Decide the Final Outcome?
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Track & Field – Still loading, with Delta expected to strike hard
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Combat Sports (Wrestling, Taekwondo) – Bayelsa already building momentum
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Team Events (Basketball, Football) – Both sides in contention
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Surprises from Smaller States – May disrupt point spreads
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Expert Take: It’s Not Over Yet
Sports analyst and former NSF coach, Tade Akinyemi, broke it down:
“Delta have the depth. But Bayelsa have the fire. If they sustain the gold momentum into combat sports, they might dethrone Delta for the first time in a decade.”
