Sports
2026 National Schools Football Championship Gains Momentum as Registrations Hit Milestone
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.
Sports
NSC, NCC Enter Bold Alliance to Make Nigeria E-Sports Capital – From Stadium to Server
Joel Ajayi
The National Sports Commission (NSC) is taking Nigerian sports beyond the track and pitch into the digital arena.
In a move that could redefine the future of sports development in the country, NSC Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, on Thursday led a high-powered delegation on a strategic working visit to the Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Hon. Idris Olorunbe.
The meeting aimed at forging a groundbreaking partnership to accelerate sports digitalisation and position Nigerian e-sports on par with global standards.
During the meeting, Hon. Olopade made it clear that the NSC is ready to embrace technology as a core driver of growth.
“Our intention is to work closely with the Nigerian Communications Commission to improve sports science, especially e-sports, through viable sponsorship. We are counting on the NCC to help deepen connectivity and attract the kind of corporate backing that modern sports demand.”
He further emphasized the need for private sector involvement.
“Corporate Social Responsibility must play a stronger role in sports development. We cannot build a 21st-century sports ecosystem without the tech and telecommunications sectors at the table. With strong cohesion between the NSC and NCC, there will be measurable improvement in sports sponsorship and digital infrastructure.”
“The NCC has a critical role to play in making e-sports work in Nigeria. From internet speed to gaming infrastructure, their support is essential if we want our athletes to compete and win on the global stage,” the DG added.
NCC Chairman, Hon. Idris Olorunbe, responded with a strong statement that set the tone for what could become a landmark partnership:“Everything that can be done in traditional sports can also be done in e-sports. The question is not if we will do it, but how we are going to do it.”
He also highlighted the economic potential of the collaboration.
“There is huge economic value attached to this synergy. What we are trying to build goes beyond sports, it touches youth employment, digital innovation, and national branding. It is commendable that the DG has taken this step.”
Hon. Olorunbe further stressed the shared national objective driving both agencies.“The essence of this collaboration is to make our country better. For the sake of our e-sports athletes, we must build gaming hubs. We must create the environment, bandwidth, and policies that allow Nigerian talent to thrive.”
Both parties agreed to establish a joint technical working group to develop a roadmap for sports digitalisation, e-sports league structuring, and a national framework for attracting sponsors into the digital sports ecosystem.
The NSC–NCC alliance marks a significant step, potentially the first formal collaboration between Nigeria’s sports and communications regulators to build a sustainable digital sports economy.
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