By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Uyo
As the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) enters a crucial phase, Delta State has firmly established itself as the team to beat, topping the medal table with a commanding haul of 19 gold, 11 silver, and 6 bronze medals as of 7:50 PM, April 4, 2025.
Bayelsa follows closely with 11 golds, 7 silvers, and 6 bronzes, while Edo State sits in third place despite having the highest number of silver medals at 18, complemented by 7 golds and 12 bronzes.
Festival observers say the competition is intensifying by the hour. “The performances we’re seeing are top-notch,” said Coach Uduak Bassey, a national athletics official. “Delta’s consistency across athletics, swimming, and para-events has set the tone, but Bayelsa and Edo are not far behind.”
Rivers State trails in fourth place with 6 golds, followed by Imo and Ondo, who are tied on 2 golds each but separated by their silver and bronze counts. Abia, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River round out the standings..”
With more medals up for grabs across swimming, athletics, wrestling, and team sports, there is still everything to play for as the festival draws closer to its climax in Uyo.