According to Sportsration, on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, Team Akwa Ibom (male) will begin their bid for a position in the football event at the National Sports Festival against Cross River State.

Ahead to the 2022 National Sports Festival, the South South elimination for several team sports will take place in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State.

On Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at 4 p.m., Akwa Ibom State will play its neighbor, Cross River State, in the male football event at the Nest of Champions practice pitch.

The Bayelsa vs. Edo State game will start at the same location at 2:00 pm and will take place before the Akwa-Cross clash. The State of Rivers are drawn bye on Matchday One .

The National Sports Festival in 2022 is hosted by Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Bayelsa, and Rivers States will compete for the only qualifying ticket from the South South zone since Delta State is excluded from the Zonal elimination.

The South South Zonal elimination for several team sports in Uyo is scheduled to conclude on Friday, October 7, 2022.

In order to compete against other zonal winners for national honors, the qualified states for each event at the zonal elimination will move on to the National Sports Festivals in Asaba.

From November 28 to December 10, 2022, Asaba, Delta State, will host the 2022 National Sports Festival.