The Super Five Baseball Championship, which brings together the top five teams from the national league, was won by De Wills Baseball Club of Bayelsa, who defeated defending champions Delta State in the final. The championship was held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, and it marked the end of a national league season that started with 17 clubs competing in various centers.
According to Uche Odozor, President of the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Federation, the Super Five championship is a platform for the best teams to compete for the national title. He noted that baseball has a huge advantage in Nigeria due to the country's large youth population. Odozor also mentioned that the federation has aligned with the National Sports Commission to expand sports to every part of the country.
Odozor recalled that baseball was introduced in Nigeria in 1960, but its promoters exited during the Nigerian civil war in 1967. The sport was reintroduced in the 1990s by former players. He also stated that the federation has brought in analysts from Japan to assess home-grown talents during the championship, and some players will be taken to Japan for further intensive training.
The Nigeria National Baseball Team Head Coach, Mr. Shinya Tomonari, from Japan, has been tasked with making Nigeria the strongest and most respected baseball team in Africa. Tomonari has previously managed teams in Ghana, Tanzania, and South Sudan, and he is implementing Baseballership Education, a human development program through baseball, in 13 African countries.
Tomonari, along with Japan's leading analyst Daisuke Hoshikawa and assistant analyst Takumu Yamada, evaluated players during the Super Five using the Trackman System. Based on the data collected, 23 national team candidates will be selected, and individualized development plans will be created. The team will prepare for the Africa Championship scheduled for next July.
Captain of Team Delta, Suleman Abdulrahman Bala, whose team had dominated Nigerian baseball for many years, said the competition was fair but alleged a change in format. Bala called for more sponsors and stronger states to support the sport. On the other hand, Captain of De Wills Baseball Club, Adebisi David, credited his teammates, coach, and management for the success, saying winning the title was stressful but a great achievement.
The Nigeria Baseball and Softball Federation is working to grow the sport, with plans to take baseball back to military barracks and schools. The federation is also introducing a Baseballership program and has started producing gloves in Nigeria to reduce costs and supply other African countries. With the support of organizations like the Arnold Sports International Foundation, the sport is expected to continue growing in Nigeria.
Key points
- De Wills Baseball Club of Bayelsa won the Super Five Baseball Championship by defeating defending champions Delta State in the final.
- The Nigeria Baseball and Softball Federation is working to expand sports to every part of the country and grow the sport through programs like Baseballership Education.
- Several Nigerian players will be invited to Japan for training with professional baseball teams and top university programs to build a strong team for the Africa Championship and Olympics 2028.
