By Aderonke Ojo
Kada Stars and Kada Queens, hockey team of Kaduna state as both teams successfully defended their titles to retain the 2025 National Hockey Super League on Saturday in Abuja.
The event which began on November 1st ended on November 8th 2025 , featured 23 teams of men’s and women’s from across the country, showcasing skill, passion, and top-level competition on the national stage.
In the men’s final, Kada Stars edged their fierce rivals, Police Machine, 3–2 in a dramatic penalty shootout after both sides battled to a goalless draw at full time.
The defending champions held their nerves to seal victory and maintain their dominance in Nigerian hockey.
Earlier in the women’s final, Kada Queens proved their superiority once again with a commanding 2–0 win over Plateau Queens to retain their title.
In the battle for bronze, Delta Queens defeated Yobe Queens 4–1 via penalties to claim third place.
With their victories, both Kada Stars and Kada Queens, along with their respective runners-up Police Machine and Plateau Queens have qualified to represent Nigeria at the upcoming Africa Cup for Club Champions (ACCC) scheduled to take place from January 24 to 31, 2026, in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The 2025 National Hockey Super League once again reaffirmed Kaduna’s dominance in Nigerian hockey, as Kada Stars and Kada Queens continue to set the benchmark for excellence on and off the pitch.
Speaking after the match, Former board member, Farouk Yohana, also commended the quality of this year’s league and emphasized the need for the club to begin preparations early for the next campaign.
“I’d like to congratulate the Nigerian national hockey team on their recent return from Egypt. It’s clear that the majority of the players are from Kada Start and Kada Queens, and Abram Kada’s influence is evident in their dominance of the Nigerian scene.
“I’m confident that with the likes of Plateau Queens and Kada Queens representing Nigeria at the upcoming African Championship in Harare, Zimbabwe, in January, we have a good chance of winning the championship. However, we need to learn from our past experiences and work towards achieving victory.
“I believe this tournament in Zimbabwe will be different, and I’m optimistic that we’ll return with a medal.
Kudos to the President of the Nigerian Hockey Federation and the board members for a successful league. The future of Nigerian hockey looks bright, with young players emerging from different state teams.”
captains of both Kada Stars and Kada Queens expressed excitement over the achievement, describing it as a proud moment for Kaduna hockey
The President of the Nigeria Hockey Federation also assessed the performance of the clubs and outlined what will be required for Nigerian teams to compete strongly and challenge for the African Club title.