Abuja: England, Argentina, Mexico, and Iran have confirmed their participation in the 2026 International Polo tournament scheduled to take place in January in Port Harcourt, Rivers. The announcement was made by Henry Agbodjan, President of the Port Harcourt Polo Club, during a news conference held in the city.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the championship, set to occur from January 11 to January 17, is expected to feature over 100 players from Nigeria, Europe, Asia, South America, and other regions. The tournament, themed ‘United by the Game’, aims to promote unity and inclusiveness among the participating countries.
The event will offer several prestigious trophies, including the Rowland Cookey-Gam, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, King T.J.T Princewill, T.Y Danjuma, Armed Forces Remembrance, and President and Governor’s Cups. Additionally, players will compete for a special memorial cup in honor of the late former President of the Port Harcourt Polo Club, Rowland Cookey-Gam.
Agbodjan emphasized that this year’s tournament highlights the importance of unity, equity, inclusiveness, and diversity through the sport. It will also serve as an opportunity to honor Cookey-Gam’s contributions to the game of polo, both domestically and internationally, twenty years after his tragic death in a plane crash.
The club president expressed gratitude to the Rivers Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and other sponsors for their support. He assured that adequate security measures would be implemented to ensure the safety and enjoyment of players and fans.
Additionally, entertainment shows featuring local and national artists will be provided to enhance the experience for attendees. Captain of the Port Harcourt Polo Club, Ikenna Nebolisa, expressed confidence in his team’s preparedness to compete in the tournament.