By Sylvanus Ofekun
The highly anticipated third season finale of the Dambe Warriors League (DWL) is set to take place on Sunday at the Velodrome, Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja. Organizers are optimistic that the traditional martial art sport, Dambe, will soon gain global recognition and become a significant player in Nigeria’s sports industry.
Chidi Anyina, co-founder of DWL, revealed that the league has secured a partnership with SuperSport to broadcast the event to 42 African countries. “We want to get global buy-in from people around the world,” Anyina said, as the league works to expand Dambe’s reach beyond Nigerian borders.
Anthony Okeleke, another co-founder, outlined the vision to elevate Dambe from local prominence in Kano to international stages like Las Vegas. This year’s finale aims to take a major step toward that goal by introducing foreign fighters into the competition. Eight local fighters are scheduled to compete, including Aljanin Nasarawa vs Yar Mage, Dogon Messi vs Shabban, Garkuwan Yansanda vs Ali Kanin Bello, and Dogon Shegiyar Mota vs Dan Tula Yellow.
Shabban, one of the fighters, expressed his determination to seek revenge against Dogon Messi. He also expressed gratitude to the DWL organizers for transforming his life through insurance and salary payments, which have significantly improved his lifestyle.
Since its inception, the DWL has experienced rapid growth. The first season finale was held at Kano Pillars Stadium, while the second took place at Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island, Lagos. The league’s continuous expansion and its broadcast partnership with SuperSport signal its ambition for global recognition.
As the third season draws to a close, the DWL is positioning Dambe as a rising force in Nigeria’s sports landscape, with hopes that it will soon capture international attention.
**Match Schedule:**
– Aljanin Nasarawa vs Yar Mage (Lightweight)
– Dogon Messi vs Shabban (Middleweight)
– Garkuwan Yansanda vs Ali Kanin Bello (Heavyweight)
– Dogon Shegiyar Mota vs Dan Tula Yellow
Venue: Velodrome, Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja
Date: Sunday
Time: 3 PM
Broadcast: SuperSport (42 African countries)
The DWL is poised to make a strong impression as it continues its journey toward global recognition, with the third season finale set to deliver an exciting showcase of Dambe’s potential.
