Hockey · Careers
How to build a hockey career in Nigeria
From school pitches to the Super League and the national teams: every step, the coaching and umpiring careers, and honest advice on money and safety.
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Careers in hockey
Your road to a hockey career
Field hockey has been played in Nigeria since 1928, and it is enjoying a revival. In October 2025 the men won Africa Cup of Nations bronze in Egypt, with James Samaila the tournament's top scorer. The women, the Green Hornets, have won African Games silver twice. A German coaching programme, a busy Super League and new youth teams mean there has rarely been a better time to pick up a stick.
This page is written for young players, parents, PE teachers and coaches. It explains each stage from school hockey to the national team, how players fund themselves, the coaching and umpiring careers in the sport, and the rules that keep you safe. Every figure was checked on 1 October 2026.
The honest truth: hockey in Nigeria is an amateur sport. We could find no published salaries for Nigerian players, and the country has only a handful of proper pitches. What hockey can give you is a team, a national jersey, travel, an education and, for some, a lifelong career as a coach, umpire or administrator.
Career facts · Checked 1 October 2026
Nigerian hockey careers in numbers
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3
Standard turf pitches
In all of Nigeria, according to the NHF in June 2026.
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36th
Men's world ranking
Nigeria's place in December 2025.
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8
Goals by James Samaila
Top scorer at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
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14
Minimum umpire age
For the FIH Level 1 Umpire Award.
The pathway at a glance
Six stages from school hockey to the national team
Ages are a guide, not a rule. Many hockey players start in secondary school or university.
Age 8 to 13
School hockey and taster sessions
Learn to control the ball on the flat side of the stick. Ask your PE teacher or a local club for a starter session.
Age 12 to 17
Join a club
Clubs such as Stallions in Lagos recruit young players from schools and universities. Train every week.
Age 14 to 18
Youth teams and Hockey5s
Nigeria's under-17 boys won the first West African Hockey5s in 2018. Boys' and girls' teams went to the U-18 Africa Hockey5s in 2026.
Age 16 and up
Super League club
The 2026 Super League in Abuja had nine men's teams and seven women's teams.
Age 17 and up
Senior national team
The men won Africa Cup bronze in 2022 and 2025; the women reached the African Games final in 2023.
Any age
Coach, umpire or administrator
FIH courses open the door to coaching and umpiring careers that can last a lifetime.
Step by step
Eight steps to a hockey career
Follow these in order. Each step builds on the one before it.
Pick up a stick, and stay in school
Hockey is played by two teams of eleven, in four quarters of 15 minutes, with a curved stick and a hard ball. Goals count only from inside the shooting circle. It suits fast, brave and skilful players, and it is played in schools and universities across Nigeria.
- Ask your PE teacher whether your school plays hockey, or whether a nearby club runs junior sessions.
- Keep up your school work. Hockey is amateur in Nigeria, so your education is your future.
Join a proper club
A club gives you coaching, matches and a record of your progress. Stallions Field Hockey Club in Lagos was founded in 1959 as the Union Bank Hockey Club and says it recruits young talent from schools and universities. A former Stallions captain created Endyfas, the End of the Year Hockey Festival, open to players of all ages. Ask the Nigeria Hockey Federation or your state association which clubs train near you.
Master the basics, then the turf
Top hockey is played on artificial turf, which is much faster than grass. The federation's vice-president, Tunde Popoola, said in June 2026 that Nigeria has only three standard pitches, so league teams must travel to one venue to play. If you train on grass, work hard on close control, passing and fitness, and make the most of every chance to play on turf.
Play Hockey5s and youth events
Hockey5s, a short five-a-side format, is a quick route into national youth teams. Nigeria's under-17 boys beat Ghana to win the first West African Hockey5s in 2018, and in August 2026 Nigeria sent boys' and girls' teams to the U-18 Africa Hockey5s Championship in Nairobi, a qualifier for the Hockey5s World Cup.
Win a place in the Super League
The Nigeria Hockey Super League is the top domestic competition, played at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium hockey pitch in Abuja. In 2026 Kada Stars beat Plateau Tigers 3-2 in the men's final and Kada Queens beat Plateau Queens 2-0 in the women's, both retaining their titles. Selectors watch this league closely.
Earn your national team call-up
Nigeria's men won bronze at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2022 and again in October 2025, when they beat Kenya 3-1 in the third-place match in Ismailia. The 2025 tournament was Africa's qualifier for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup. In December 2025 the men were ranked 36th in the world. Be fit, disciplined and coachable at every camp.
Look for opportunities abroad, carefully
Some Nigerian players have continued their careers overseas. Josiah Timothy Tinat, born in Kaduna State, played for Nigeria at the 2003 All-Africa Games in Abuja and moved to Italy in 2007 to play for Cus Cagliari in Sardinia. We found no published professional contracts for Nigerian hockey players abroad, so plan any move around study or work. Check every offer with your club and the federation.
Start coaching or umpiring early
Many of the people who run Nigerian hockey today were players first. Take a coaching or umpiring course while you are still playing. See Careers around the pitch below.
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Pay
Making a living: the honest picture
We will be straight with you: hockey in Nigeria does not pay a salary. We could not find any published wage, prize money or match fee for Nigerian club or national team players.
| Question | What we could verify | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Player salaries | No published figures for Nigerian clubs; the sport is amateur | SitesNG |
| Super League prize money | No published figure | SitesNG |
| Coaching support | A German Foreign Ministry programme sent former Germany women's coach Michael Behrmann to help train Nigerian coaches in 2026 | Leadership, 2026 |
| Facilities | Only three standard synthetic pitches in Nigeria; the NSC has announced an upgrade of the national hockey pitch in Abuja | Voice of Nigeria, 2026 |
How people really fund themselves: most players are students or have jobs, and play for clubs that cover kit and travel where they can. Hockey can still pay you back in other ways: university places, travel with national teams, a network of people in business and government, and coaching or umpiring work later. The National Sports Commission now expects federations to show grassroots development before it funds international competitions, which pushes hockey to invest in young players.
Beyond playing
Careers around the pitch
Hockey needs far more than players. Every match needs umpires, technical officials, coaches and organisers, and these roles are open to people of almost any age.
| Career | How to start | Next level |
|---|---|---|
| Coach | Help with a school or club team, then take the FIH Level 1 coaching course. In June 2026 the NHF announced Level 1 and 2 coaching courses alongside the Super League in Abuja. | The FIH pathway runs from Level 1 to Level 2, Level 3 and High Performance, with face-to-face and online courses at each level. |
| Umpire | The FIH Level 1 Umpire Award is the first step on the FIH umpire pathway. It is open from age 14; one online course on the FIH Academy cost 65 Swiss francs. | The NHF also runs umpires' seminars. Good umpires progress to national and continental appointments. |
| Technical official and administrator | Volunteer at matches and tournaments: scoring, timing, team management and media. | Club, state and federation roles. NHF vice-president Tunde Popoola is a former Stallions captain. |
| PE teacher | Study physical and health education and start hockey at your school. | School teams, state championships and youth events. |
The federation is investing in coaches now. Former Germany women's coach Michael Behrmann came to Abuja in 2026 under a German Foreign Ministry sports development programme, with Nigeria the first stop before Egypt and Ghana. If you want to coach, ask the federation about the next course.
Women's hockey
The path for girls and women
Nigeria's women have often been the country's most successful hockey team. The Green Hornets beat Kenya 6-4 to win Africa Cup of Nations bronze in 2017, won African Games silver in 2003 and 2023, and played at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. In 2025 they finished fourth at the Africa Cup of Nations.
- Women's clubs play their own Super League division. Seven women's teams took part in 2026, and Kada Queens won the title.
- Girls' teams now travel too: Nigeria sent a girls' team to the U-18 Africa Hockey5s Championship in Nairobi in August 2026.
- Our records list women such as Ovoh Roseline Eloho, Ogbole Blessing and Beauty Irame among the players who have represented Nigeria.
Read more about their medals on our competitions and players page.
Stay safe
Kit, safety and clean sport
Hockey uses a hard ball and a solid stick, so good habits matter from your first session.
Rules that protect you
- Wear the right kit. Field players wear shin guards and mouthguards; goalkeepers wear full protective equipment, including a helmet with a face guard; defenders may wear face masks for penalty corners.
- Never lift the ball dangerously or swing your stick high near other players. These are fouls for a reason.
- Play clean. The National Anti-Doping Act, signed in April 2025, created the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre and brought Nigeria in line with the World Anti-Doping Code. Check any medicine or supplement with a doctor.
- Never pay anyone who promises a place in a team or a trip abroad. Confirm every offer with your club and the federation.
- Parents and coaches: young players should train where other adults are present. Report any concern about an adult's behaviour to the club, school or federation.
Advice from the stars
What Nigerian hockey wants you to know
Every quote below was checked word for word against the outlet named under it. We add one practical lesson to each.
If we can expose players from the age of 15 to international hockey, then the future of Nigerian hockey will be very bright
Farouk YohannaBoard member, Nigeria Hockey Federation
Leadership, 2026The lesson: Start young and chase every youth tournament you can.
Hockey at the highest level is played on artificial turf.
Tunde PopoolaVice-president, Nigeria Hockey Federation, and former Stallions captain
Voice of Nigeria, 27 June 2026The lesson: Train for speed on grass, and seize every chance to play on turf.
I am here to support Nigerian hockey with my knowledge and to help develop coaches
Michael BehrmannFormer Germany women's national coach
Leadership, 2026The lesson: Good coaches make good players. Coaching is a career worth training for.
Our players showed the true Nigerian spirit. We'll keep building on this foundation to achieve greater results.
Simon NkomPresident, Nigeria Hockey Federation
Voice of Nigeria, 20 October 2025The lesson: Every medal is a foundation, not a finish line.
Your first move
Where to start this week
Whatever your age, you can start this week. Tick these off:
- Ask your school or a local club if you can join a hockey session.
- Get shin guards and a mouthguard before you play a match.
- Practise dribbling and passing with the flat side of the stick every day.
- Ask your club about Hockey5s and youth events.
- Keep your school grades up: they keep every door open.
- Interested in coaching or umpiring? Look at the FIH Level 1 courses.
- Parents and coaches: contact the Nigeria Hockey Federation about clubs and courses.
Find the federation's details on our Contact the Nigeria Hockey Federation page, and read the full story on our history of hockey page.
Keep exploring
Explore Nigerian hockey
Quick answers
Hockey careers in Nigeria: your questions
How do I start playing hockey in Nigeria?
Ask your school or a local club for a starter session, and contact the Nigeria Hockey Federation or your state association to find clubs. Clubs such as Stallions in Lagos recruit young players from schools and universities.
Do hockey players in Nigeria get paid?
No published salaries exist for Nigerian hockey players; the sport is amateur. Most players are students or have jobs, and many build later careers as coaches, umpires or administrators.
How do I become a hockey umpire?
Start with the FIH Level 1 Umpire Award, the first step on the FIH umpire pathway, open from age 14. The Nigeria Hockey Federation also runs umpires' seminars, including one announced alongside the 2026 Super League.
How do I become a hockey coach in Nigeria?
Help at a school or club, then take the FIH Level 1 coaching course. The FIH pathway continues to Level 2, Level 3 and High Performance, and the NHF announced Level 1 and 2 courses in Abuja in 2026.
Who won the 2026 Nigeria Hockey Super League?
Kada Stars retained the men's title by beating Plateau Tigers 3-2, and Kada Queens retained the women's title by beating Plateau Queens 2-0, at the national hockey pitch in Abuja.
How many hockey pitches does Nigeria have?
NHF vice-president Tunde Popoola said in June 2026 that Nigeria has only three standard synthetic pitches, which is why league teams meet at one venue. The NSC has announced an upgrade of the national pitch in Abuja.
Is there a pathway for girls in Nigerian hockey?
Yes. Girls play in schools and clubs, women's teams play their own Super League division, Nigeria sent a girls' team to the 2026 U-18 Africa Hockey5s, and the senior Green Hornets have won African Games silver twice.