Sports

2026 National Schools Football Championship Gains Momentum as Registrations Hit Milestone

Published

6 months ago

April 7, 2026

Preparations have gathered pace for the 2026 National Schools Football Championship, with a surge in registrations marking a major milestone ahead of the nationwide competition.

The tournament, endorsed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), aims to provide a structured platform for students to showcase their talents while strengthening the pipeline for Nigeria’s Under-15 and Under-17 national teams.

The competition will kick off in May across the 36 states and the FCT, with schools competing at state level before advancing to regional stages. Winners from the six geopolitical zones will then converge in Abuja for the grand finale in June 2026, featuring both boys’ and girls’ teams.

Speaking on the initiative, CEO of Kickstart Sports Foundation, Ibrahim Bello, described the project as a long-term investment in Nigerian football, focused not only on talent discovery but also on structured development. He added that standout players will undergo advanced training under top coaches and gain exposure to local and international scouts.

Bello also highlighted the collaboration with key stakeholders, including the NFF, noting that national team coaches, as well as international academies and clubs, will scout players during the tournament.

He further explained that the championship is a landmark initiative, being fully age-verified, safeguarded, and gender-inclusive, with participation restricted strictly to school-based athletes. The use of NIMC-integrated biometric verification is also expected to eliminate age fraud and ensure credibility in the competition.

The competition will also provide an opportunity for Physical Education teachers from participating schools to receive training and obtain certified football coaching licenses.

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Sports

AACT 2026: 31 Days to Africa’s Big Sporting Gathering in Abuja

Published

3 hours ago

October 2, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The countdown to the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) has officially entered the final month, with just 31 days to go before Africa’s leading women’s team golf championship tees off at the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja.

In a statement signed by the AACT 2026Director of Communication Kayode Adeniyi on Friday in Abuja.

Under the theme “Africa Is Coming to Abuja,” the countdown campaign will spotlight the championship, the participating nations, the players, the host venue and the growing development of women’s golf across the continent.

The 2026 AACT, scheduled for November 2–7, will bring together women’s golfing talent from across Africa for six days of continental competition in Nigeria’s capital.

As preparations continue at the IBB International Golf & Country Club, attention is increasingly turning to Abuja, where the championship will provide a platform for African golfers to compete while also showcasing Nigeria’s hospitality and the country’s growing profile as a destination for major sporting events.

The countdown will feature daily stories, interviews, player and country profiles, tournament facts, behind-the-scenes updates and features on the host venue as the championship draws closer.

The campaign will also highlight the role of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), the Local Organising Committee and other stakeholders in preparing for the continental championship.

With just 31 days remaining, anticipation is building across the African golfing community as Abuja prepares to welcome the continent’s leading women golfers.

Africa is coming to Abuja.

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