Sports
FirstBank/Okwaraji Foundation U-16 Schools Championship Unveils Zonal Qualifiers Schedule
The zonal qualifiers of the 2026 edition of the FirstBank/Samuel Okwaraji Foundation Under-16 National All Secondary Schools Championship will be played from September 19 to 24, 2026 for Northern teams, and 25th to 30th September 2026 for the Southern teams.
The championship, which has witnessed states elimination rounds across the country, has rekindled excitement among secondary school students, young football talents and football enthusiasts.
Organised by the Samuel Okwaraji Foundation in collaboration with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF), the competition is sponsored by FirstBank, with the Foundation’s Steering Committee chaired by Senator Osita Izunaso.
According to the organisers, the states elimination series was conducted across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The state phase ran from June 26 to July 5, with champions from the respective states progressing to the zonal stage. The outstanding teams from the states competitions will converge on Abuja, Kano and Bauchi for the Northern Zone elimination and Lagos , Asaba and Owerri for Southern zonal eliminations .
The organisers said the championship, which is exclusively designed for secondary school students, has contributed significantly to grassroots football development by providing young players with a platform to showcase their abilities in a competitive environment.
They added that several promising talents have already been identified during the various stages of the competition, with plans to recommend outstanding players to relevant football authorities and development programmes for further exposure and opportunities.
Beyond football development, the championship also serves as a tribute to the memory and legacy of late Nigerian football star Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji, who died on August 12, 1989, while representing Nigeria in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Angola at the National Stadium in Lagos.
The organisers said the competition is intended to preserve Okwaraji’s legacy while using football as a tool for youth development, talent discovery and national integration.
Sports
AACT 2026: 31 Days to Africa’s Big Sporting Gathering in Abuja
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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