For six days, from 13 to 18 July 2026, the Col. Ad Umar Polo Ground in Bauchi became the stage for some of the most competitive polo action of the season. The Bauchi Annual International Polo Tournament brought together teams competing for four prestigious cups, producing intense contests, memorable performances and four different champions by the time the final match came to an end.
Malcomines claimed the Governor's Cup, while Gilaso Ismanaf lifted the Tafawa Balewa Cup. Crown Club Resort secured the Emir's Cup, before Gilaso Ismanaf II completed the championship line-up with victory in the prestigious Sarkin Fulani Cup.
For Gilaso Ismanaf II, however, the achievement carried a significance of its own. The club secured the Sarkin Fulani Cup for the third consecutive time, continuing a remarkable run of success in the competition. The victory was made even more memorable by the opportunity given to two of the club's grooms to represent the team on the field. Playing outside Kano for the first time, both delivered outstanding performances and helped their team secure the cup turning a first appearance on a new stage into a championship victory.
The tournament also provided several memorable moments away from the final scorelines. During the second-leg clash between Malcomines and Dokaji Farms, Retired Colonel Ad Umar was in attendance and performed the ceremonial throw-in to begin the match, adding a fitting moment of tradition to the competition at the polo ground.
From Malcomines' Governor's Cup triumph to Crown Club Resort's Emir's Cup success, and from Gilaso Ismanaf's Tafawa Balewa Cup victory to Gilaso Ismanaf II's historic third consecutive Sarkin Fulani Cup win, each champion left Bauchi with a story of its own.
And perhaps that is what made this year's tournament so special: there was not one champion, but four; not one defining story, but many.
Six days. Four cups. Four champions. One unforgettable tournament in Bauchi.
