By Solomon Nwoke

Over 25 Polo teams from across the country will be jostling for top honours at the 2026 edition of the Nigeria Polo Association (NPA)/ GTCO Lagos International Polo Tournament which.has been fixed to gallop off from January 27 at Lagos Polo Club, Ikoyi, Lagos
President Lagos Polo Club Adeyemo Alakija who disclosed this at crowded Media Briefing said the international tournament revered as one of the biggest polo events in the world would span three weeks of high-octane polo games and climax with fanfare on February 15 at the foremost Ribadu Polo Ground in Ikoyi, Lagos.

He commended the main sponsor GTCO, other sponsors and partners for their supports to the prestigious event that dates back since 1904, ensuring it gained reputation as one of the biggest polo tournaments in Africa, the Lagos Polo Club look forward to delivering great values for the sponsors and participants during the epoch fiesta.

Alakija said that the club is rejuvenated with the continuous infrastructural upgrade stressing that the entire club has been primed for safety of players and horses to go with international standard.

“The ambitious teams fully armed with foreign professionals and fortified with thoroughbred Argentine horses would be competing for four major prizes and a handful of subsidiary laurels,” he said.

Lagos Polo Tournament Manager, Usman Dantata (Jnr) gave a breakdown of the teams vying for top honours also disclosed that professional players from Argentina, United Kingdom, South Africa, the best.

Dantata listed The Majekdunmi Cup as the biggest prize of the tournament. Other major cups are the Chapel Hill Denham Open Cup, the Lagos Low Cup as well as the crowded Lagos Silver Cup that would draw the curtain on the glamorous festival.

The subsidiary prizes are, the Oba of Lagos, Governor’s Cup, Adedapo Ojora Memorial Cup, Sani Dangote Cup, the Argentine Ambassador’s Cup, the Independence Cup, Lagos Heritage Cup, and the Cancer Awareness Bowl, among others.

The Chapel Hill Denham Open Cup will be the prize to win at the opening week of the event, while the highly revered Majekodunmi Cup will take the center stage in the second week. The Low Cup and the Silver Cup that attracted the highest number of teams, are set to draw the curtain on the international fiesta in the third and final week.

“Let me assure everyone that with the intensification of teams parathions and caliber of players confirmed to showcase their talents as well as the expected high standard of games, 2026 Lagos International Polo Tournament is set to set a new standard in excitement and prestige”, Dantata added.

Representative of the Mani Sponsor, GTCO, said the sponsorship of the NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament, over the years has ensured that the international fiesta has grown in team commitment, Nigerian and foreign players participation to become one of the most anticipated social and sporting events globally.

According to the Tournament Committee, a grand package of entertainment featuring the best hands in the industry, has been put in place for teeming polo buffs, players and invited guests during the festival, while a long list of high-profile personalities are expected to witness the grandiose polo extravaganza.