Activities marking the 2026 World Polio Day sensitisation through football and para-soccer matches have ended with final games and prize presentation to winners at the Giginya Memorial Stadium volleyball court in Sokoto.
The competition was an interesting youth-led model soccer tournament aimed at raising awareness on polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases in communities.
The grand finale was held on Friday, October 23, 2026, at the Giginya Memorial Stadium handball court, featuring the Para-Soccer Final between polio survivors, prize presentation to winners in all categories and presentation of winners' cups.
Earlier, the Youth Football Match final was held on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at the Abdullahi Shehu Arena, beside the NNPC Mega Station, while the Government and Development Partners football match took place on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at the same venue. Both matches kicked off at 4:00 p.m.
Two teams made it to the final of the polio teams competition – Polio Vaccine Team and Polio Virus Team.
At the end of the final, the Polio Vaccine Team won the trophy after scoring two goals against the Polio Virus Team, which failed to score.
UNICEF Nigeria congratulated the entire Sokoto team, saying the main objective is to mobilise productive and influential youths in the fight against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
The tournament featured model-field contests among U-Reporters, social media influencers, government partners, development partners, non-compliant communities and the Polio Survivors Groups (PSGs).
The group stage matches were held at the Shehu Arena beside the NNPC Mega Station, Sokoto, while the final games and rally were held at the Giginya Memorial Stadium, with the Polio Survivors Group playing against each other.
The organisers also sought public support for efforts to raise more awareness and save more lives.
Meanwhile, the Social Media Team (Facebook Club) emerged victorious in the Youth Category of the Polio Awareness Games 2026 after defeating the Maituta Warriors (Royalty Team) in the final played at the Abdullahi Shehu Arena.
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