Nigeria will participate in the Sixth Islamic Games, which will hold in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 7 to 21, 2025.

According to the National Sports Commission (NOC), Team Nigeria will feature a 46-member contingent, comprising 35 athletes and 11 officials, who will compete in seven sports, including athletics, para athletics, para powerlifting, weightlifting, wrestling, boxing, and taekwondo.

NSC Director General, Bukola Olopade, described the Games as more than just another international outing, saying that it is a strategic stepping stone toward the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

“It’s part of our National Sports Commission’s strategic planning for the Olympics,” Olopade said. “The Islamic Solidarity Games represent a great opportunity for Nigeria to showcase our talent on the global stage — and we believe this team has what it takes to excel.”

He disclosed that the Team Nigeria camp in Abuja is buzzing with energy and determination, adding that the advance party will depart for Riyadh today, setting the tone for what promises to be a thrilling campaign in the desert kingdom.

The boxing team will be the first to get into the ring, with fights beginning on November 4, three days before the grand opening ceremony.

This year’s Games, featuring 21 sports and two para-sports, brings together athletes from across the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states.

It will also mark Saudi Arabia’s second time hosting the event, two decades after the inaugural edition in 2005.