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By . . The National Sports Commission (NSC) has pledged its full support for Nigerian golfers participating in the qualifiers for the 2025 Qatar Open Championships.
For the first time in 19 years, the championship will feature two amateur golfers from Nigeria. This development comes after a long-standing blacklist by Qatari authorities, which was imposed due to incidents where Nigerian players absconded upon arrival in the Gulf nation, despite being granted visas and travel support. The two coveted slots will be awarded to the top two finishers in the qualifiers, aptly named ‘The Sun Open,’ which began yesterday at the Python Golf Club in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The tournament is scheduled to run until January 24, providing Nigerian golfers a unique opportunity to compete on the international stage. This commitment was disclosed by the NSC chairman, Alhaji Dikko, during a meeting in Abuja with officials from the High Performance Centre and Sports Leadership Hub (HPCSLH), led by Dr. Bob Olukoya.
Dikko highlighted the critical role of private sector involvement in advancing Nigerian sports and commended HPCSLH for its dedication to supporting athletes. “We need more private organisations to emulate HPCSLH’s example in fostering sports development,” Dikko said. Dr.
Olukoya expressed confidence in the Nigerian golfers, stating that they are poised to make the country proud. “Our aim is not just participation but victory at the Qatar Open in Doha. Winning would automatically secure our golfer’s spot at the Qatar Masters, a key event on the DP World Tour,” Olukoya noted.
The tournament winner and a wild card entrant selected by HPCSLH will represent Nigeria at the Qatar Open in February 2025 which presents a significant opportunity for the Nigerian golfers to showcase their talents on a global stage. The winner of the tournament will earn an automatic spot in the prestigious Qatar Masters, a key event on the lucrative DP World Tour which no Nigerian golfer till date has ever competed in. Update: In 2025, Nigerians have been approved to earn US Dollars as salary while living in Nigeria.
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