Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Naija Drone Soccer League (NDSL) will take drone soccer to Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones from October 26 to November 9, 2026, through a national combine aimed at expanding youth participation and promoting technology-based learning through sport.
The 15-day programme will visit Gombe, Abuja, Kano, Uyo, Enugu and Lagos, bringing together schools, prospective athletes, education stakeholders and technical experts.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the league said the initiative would introduce the emerging sport to more communities, identify promising talent and lay the groundwork for team development. The programme will also promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education through practical exposure to drones, engineering and related technologies.
“The National Combine will introduce drone soccer to communities across the country while providing opportunities to engage schools, identify prospective talent and lay the groundwork for team development,” the league said.
The national combine will begin in Gombe on October 26 before moving to Abuja on October 29, Kano on November 1, Uyo on November 4, Enugu on November 7 and Lagos on November 9. The Abuja event will take place at Starville School, Jahi II, while the Gombe session is scheduled for the Multi-Purpose Indoor Sports Hall.
Technical experts from the United States will demonstrate how drone soccer works, showcase equipment and share technical knowledge with Nigerian participants and stakeholders.
According to NDSL, the programme will encourage young people to explore engineering, innovation and other STEM-related fields while fostering collaboration among schools, prospective athletes and technical experts.
NDSL Names Kano, Lagos Team Presidents
As part of its team-development plans, NDSL has appointed Nasiru Bello as Team President of the Kano Cyber Eagles and Ibrahim Yunusa as Team President of the Lagos Velocity Storm.
The appointments are expected to strengthen the league’s franchise structure and support the development of teams representing the two states.
The national combine forms part of NDSL’s broader effort to expand drone soccer participation and create opportunities for young Nigerians to enter the sport. By combining drone technology with organised competition, the league aims to give students practical exposure to engineering and innovation while introducing them to a new sporting discipline.
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Hope Ajayi 
Korede Abdullah 