Sports

42 Clubs Battle for Supremacy as N-Youth League Cup Kicks Off

Published

4 days ago

October 13, 2026

Joel Ajayi

From 23 clubs in its inaugural season to 42 clubs in 2026/27, Nigeria’s technology-driven U-19 football league, the N-Youth League Cup (N-YLC), has continued its remarkable growth with expanded international scouting partnerships and professional opportunities.

The elite youth competition has announced another milestone ahead of the new season, with 42 participating clubs, enhanced player-performance analytics, strengthened regulations and an ambitious programme to connect Nigeria’s brightest talents with professional opportunities worldwide.

Under its founder and President, Robinson Adakosa, the N-YLC is redefining youth football development through a professionally structured, technology-driven, data-supported competition that combines elite football, player identification, international exposure and career development.

“For us, this is not simply about organizing football matches. We are building a football development ecosystem that connects Nigerian talents to the global football industry.”

“Nigeria possesses an extraordinary pool of young football talent. Our responsibility is to ensure that these players are properly developed, professionally documented, consistently exposed to competitive football and given genuine opportunity to be discovered” Adakosa said

With support from the Nigeria Football Federation, participating FAs, professional clubs, academies and technology partners including Wyscout and Eyeball, the league has recorded about 83 percent growth in three seasons – from 23 clubs in 2024/25 to 36 in 2025/26 and 42 for 2026/27.

For the new season, clubs will compete through a 3-regional conference structure to improve geographical representation, maintain competitive balance and reduce travel costs, with a pathway to the prestigious National Super 8 Championship, won last season by Sporting Supreme FC in Eket, Akwa Ibom state.

Commenting on the progress, Adakosa said: “Three seasons ago, we started with 23 clubs and a very clear vision: to create a professionally organised youth competition that would provide talented young Nigerians with the visibility they deserve. Today we are entering our third season with 42 clubs, international scouting platforms, players progressing abroad and increasing recognition.”

Adakosa disclosed that the proposed November 2026 All-Star programme in England, in partnership with Brooke House College, will further create international opportunities, while ensuring clubs benefit commercially to reinvest in facilities, coaching and welfare.
The opening Day 1 fixtures {South West Conference} will see the likes of Imperial FC vs Spartans FC trading tackles. Others fixtures include, Unicorn FC vs Olympique Lagos Football Academy, Saki Stars Sport Club vs Blaze Football Academy , Athletic SC 2022 vs Awatown Academy with the matches scheduled for Remo Stadium Ikenne.

On Wednesday, AMG Sports Academy will try Seamoriow FC for size, while
Shuffle Select FA and House of Prayers will slug it out for supremacy.
Others matches listed include, Grassrunners FC vs Kwara F Academy
Greenlock FC vs The City Bride FC, while in South South Conference
Enjima Station Nhecha F Academy vs Morale FC
Bayelsa Starlets FA vs FC Prague Nigeria ,Golden Stars FA vs Marines City FC
Sporting 24 FA vs Edel FC Awka, Abia Warriors FC vs RSMA-Peppers Sport Mgt Academy.
In the North Central Conference, Sporting Supreme will face off with perennial rival, AS Roma Academy U16, Abuja. Others matches in the zone include, Hyperbuzz vs AS Roma U17 , Almasi Fc vs Darazo Football Academy, JKD Football Academy will face off One Touch FC.

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Cyclists, Athletes, Fitness Communities others Set for 5th Chaingang MTB Festival in Abuja

Published

16 hours ago

October 16, 2026

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

Cyclists, professional athletes and fitness enthusiasts are set to converge on Abuja for the 5th edition of the Abuja Chaingang Mountain Bike (MTB) Festival and 10th year anniversary of the the club scheduled for November 21–22, 2026, in the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Chairman of the MTB Festival Organising Committee, Mr Olatunji Olanrewaju, said the event would mark a significant milestone in the development of competitive cycling in Nigeria.

Organised by the Chaingang Cycling Club Abuja in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN), the festival will introduce Cross-Country Short Track (XCC) and Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) race courses, alongside the unveiling of the Sunrise Hills MTB Course in Asokoro, bordering Guzape.

The organisers said the new courses feature natural terrain, steep climbs, rocky descents, switchbacks and panoramic ridgelines designed to challenge riders and promote competitive mountain biking.

The festival, adopted as Nigeria’s national qualifier for international mountain biking competitions, will provide cyclists with opportunities to compete for qualification slots for major championships, with prize money available across race categories.

Olanrewaju disclosed that the festival had attracted several cycling teams over the years, including foreign participants in almost every edition, expressing optimism that the 2026 event would attract even greater participation.

He called on sponsors, government agencies, security institutions and multinational organisations to support the festival, noting that their participation would help strengthen Nigeria’s outdoor sports industry and enhance the country’s international sporting profile.

Also speaking, the Technical Director of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, Bashiru Mohammed, described the festival as an important platform for developing cycling and strengthening the country’s cycling community.

Mohammed said the competition was open to cyclists and cycling groups across Nigeria and beyond, adding that the organisers would share information about the event with international partners to encourage wider participation.

He explained that the professional races would feature male and female competitors in the XCC and XCO categories, while the programme would also include activities for children.

According to him, the competition would help Nigerian cyclists prepare for next year’s championship for emerging countries, which he likened to an Olympic-style gathering of athletes from different sporting disciplines.

In his remarked, the CFN Secretary-General of the federation, Joel Akinuwa, said prize money remained an important feature of the festival, noting that participants in the previous edition received financial rewards in addition to opportunities to qualify for the African Championships and other major international competitions.

Akinuwa added that winners across the various categories in the 2026 edition would also receive prize money, providing further motivation for cyclists to compete.

Beyond the elite races, the two-day festival will feature a trail run, children’s mountain bike race, veterans’ recreational ride, city-wide fitness ride and hiking campout.

The event will also incorporate corporate social responsibility initiatives, including the Jigakushi School Restoration Project and the Road Safety Street Mural Initiative, aimed at promoting community development and road safety awareness.

The organisers said the festival would bring together professional athletes, recreational cyclists, families, young people, fitness enthusiasts, media organisations and international observers, while promoting tourism, youth development and community engagement.

They added that the long-term vision was to position Abuja and Nigeria as leading mountain biking destinations in Africa, capable of hosting international competitions and attracting athletes from across the continent and beyond.

Registration for the 2026 Abuja Chaingang MTB Festival is ongoing through the club’s website, www.chaingang.ng.

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