Mbah and Sports Commission Unveil Mascot for 2026 Coal City Games

A lion named “Odum Eze, Lion King” will represent Enugu’s bid to host what officials describe as a world-class National Sports Festival in 2026.

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We expect a sports festival that will be defined by integrity.

Governor Peter Mbah, represented at the unveiling by Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai, said the mascot reflected Enugu’s seat of power as well as strength, courage, leadership and discipline. He said organizers expected athletes and the festival itself to embody those qualities when the games take place from November 27 to December 11.

Mbah also used the occasion to criticize the decline of Nigeria’s international sporting reputation and called for greater attention to school sports. He said grassroots development was needed to discover and nurture young talent.

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We expect a sports festival that will depict Nigerian strength, courage, and utmost discipline.

National Sports Commission Director-General Bukola Olapade said Enugu would become only the second South-East state to host the festival since Imo State held it in 1998. He said inspections showed strong security and infrastructure, although the swimming pool and indoor sports hall still needed completion work. The federal government, he added, had decided to support host states with sports infrastructure rather than leave the burden entirely to state governments.

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After the inspection yesterday, we came to the conclusion that Enugu is ready to take the National Sports Festival to unprecedented heights.