Polo season resumes in May as clubs sharpen for second-leg tour
Polo clubs across the country are revving up preparations for the second stage of the 2026 polo season, due to resume next month following a break for Easter and Eid
Polo clubs across the country are revving up preparations for the second stage of the 2026 polo season, due to resume next month following a break for Easter and Eid el-Fitr celebrations.
Ibadan has been confirmed as the take-off point for the second leg, with officials of the polo ruling authorities stating that the southern swing will culminate in May with the prestigious Ibadan tournament — which will mark the 120th anniversary of polo in the ancient city.
The second leg will take the national tour through the North Central, North West, North East and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), before a finale in Jos in December at the Jos International Polo Tournament.
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On resumption, Nigeria's top polo stars are expected to compete across Minna, Kano, Bauchi, Yola, Kaduna, Abuja, Jos and Port Harcourt, before the tour makes its next Lagos stop in 2027 — the city where polo was first played in Nigeria in 1904.
The first phase of the 2026 tour opened in Katsina last August and concluded in February with the Lagos International Polo Tournament, where Lagos-based teams dominated a strong field to clinch the Majekodunmi Cup.
During the first leg, polo continued to cement its status as one of Nigeria's biggest corporate sports, attracting new followers and adding fresh tournaments to the calendar. Notable milestones included the inauguration of the Crown Club Polo Resort in Jos and the Renewed Hope Cup, contested in Kaduna and Yola.
The traditional mid-season break doubles as a restocking period for patrons, who use the downtime to replenish stables and strengthen their squads ahead of the resumption. Based on standings at the end of the first leg, the teams to watch as May approaches include Jos Malcomines, Kaduna El-Amin, Abuja Rubicon, Kano Pop Cola and Katsina Max Air.
