A surprising turn of events has unfolded at the 2025 National Sports Festival in Ogun State, as promising young gymnast Munyal Kwairanga from Gombe State was disqualified from competition for being underage — despite having competed and won a medal in the 2022 edition of the festival.

 

Kwairanga, who stunned audiences with her performance at the Asaba-hosted NSF in Delta State at just 12 years old, was ruled ineligible to compete this year at the age of 14. The decision has sparked widespread debate over the festival’s age verification procedures, with critics pointing out inconsistencies across different editions of the games, where other underage athletes have reportedly been allowed to compete.

 

Despite the setback, Kwairanga was seen in high spirits, enjoying the festival from the stands. Sources close to the NSF say that while such disqualifications are uncommon, they are not unprecedented in the complex landscape of Nigerian sports governance.

 

The controversy comes amid logistical challenges affecting this year’s festival. Athletes and officials have been grappling with long travel times between venues, with many stranded late into the night while awaiting transport. Numerous athletes were seen at nightfall waiting for official buses in Abeokuta to return to the Games Village at Babcock University, Ilishan — a journey of no less than two hours.

 

As the festival enters its final days, concerns are mounting over the management of athlete welfare and the consistency of administrative decisions.