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Squash · History

History of Squash in Nigeria

From a school game in England to the courts of Lagos, Abuja and beyond.

Two players in a rally on a glass court

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History of squash sports in Nigeria

The history of this sport dates back to the twelfth century when French players first played a handball game against walls and in courtyards, which grew into real tennis once rackets came into use around the sixteenth century. During the 18th century the game of rackets was played in England, notably in London’s Fleet Prison, which involved players hitting a hard ball against the wall.

Squash itself was invented around 1830 at Harrow School in England, when pupils found that a punctured rackets ball, which squashed on hitting the wall, made for a faster game with more variety. The popularity of this game continued to increase through the 19th century across Britain and in the United States, where the first national squash association was formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1904. The Squash Rackets Association was later formed in Britain in 1928.

Squash was played in Nigeria from the 1950s, when the first standard squash court was built at King’s College, Lagos, in 1956; in the 1970s the game spread quickly across the country and was specifically known as squash in the sense that the difference between the two games is obvious.

The clearest difference is that the squash court is marked by walls where players hit the balls whereas the tennis court features a rectangular flat open surface.

The development of squash in Nigeria became the basis for the formulation of some related associations which helps to organize squash in the country. Some of these organizations include Nigeria Squash Federation (NSF), Nigeria Squash Professional Association (NSPAN) and Chamberlain Squash Open (CSO).

Nigeria Squash Federation (NSF) is a professional governing body that was founded in 1974 to administer and supervise the sport of squash at the national stage.

A Nigerian player lunging for the ball at an international tournament

Verified timeline · checked 30 September 2026

Squash in Nigeria: a timeline

  1. c. 1830Squash is invented at Harrow School, England, from the older game of rackets.
  2. 1904The first national squash association is formed in Philadelphia, USA.
  3. 1928The Squash Rackets Association is formed in Britain.
  4. 1956The first standard squash court in Nigeria is built at King’s College, Lagos.
  5. 1973The National Stadium squash complex opens in Lagos under General Yakubu Gowon’s government.
  6. 1974The Nigeria Squash Rackets Federation, today the Nigeria Squash Federation, is founded. The armed forces and police build the first national squash structure.
  7. Early 1980sNigeria affiliates to the World Squash Federation.
  8. 1998Squash joins the Commonwealth Games programme.
  9. Oct 2003Abuja hosts the All-Africa Games, the only edition with squash. Nigeria wins men’s and women’s team bronze.
  10. 2014Babatunde Ajagbe reaches world No. 144.
  11. 2022Nigeria wins men’s and women’s team bronze at the Africa Senior Championships in Bulawayo.
  12. 2023Onaopemipo Adegoke wins the Namibian Open, the first PSA World Tour title by a Nigerian. Yemisi Olatunji retires after reaching world No. 104.
  13. Jan 2025Adegoke reaches a career-high world ranking of 130.
  14. Aug 2025Adegoke represents Nigeria at the World Games in Chengdu, China.
  15. 2028Squash makes its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028.

Soldiers, police and the first champions

In Nigeria, the military were the first to build a structure for squash. The armed forces and police provided the first courts, coaches and internationally competitive players, and officers led the federation for years. Early national champions included Okanlawon Martins, Ben Solomon, Teofeek Afolabi, Tarry Tikili, Taiwo Owoyemi, Regina Obi and Moses Olubo. Past federation leaders include Commodore Omolulu, Kayode Roberts, Brigadier General Toki and Alhaji Adamu Erena. Today Nigeria has more than 300 squash courts, many with glass back walls.

A Nigerian woman playing a forehand at an international PSA event

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Quick answers

Squash history: quick answers

Where was squash invented?

At Harrow School in England, around 1830, when pupils found that a punctured rackets ball that squashed against the wall made a faster, more varied game.

When did squash come to Nigeria?

The game was played in Nigeria in the colonial era; the first standard court was built at King’s College, Lagos, in 1956, and the sport grew quickly in the 1970s.

When was the Nigeria Squash Federation founded?

In 1974, as the Nigeria Squash Rackets Federation. Past leaders include Commodore Omolulu, Kayode Roberts, Brigadier General Toki and Alhaji Adamu Erena.

Who were Nigeria’s early squash champions?

Early national champions included Okanlawon Martins, Ben Solomon, Teofeek Afolabi, Tarry Tikili, Taiwo Owoyemi, Regina Obi and Moses Olubo.