Sports

FirstBank/Samuel Okwaraji Foundation U-16 Championship Kicks Off Across Nigeria

Published

4 months ago

June 25, 2026

Cyril Ogar

The 2026 edition of the FirstBank/Samuel Okwaraji Foundation Under-16 National All Secondary Schools Championship is set to begin across Nigeria, rekindling excitement among secondary school students and football enthusiasts nationwide.

The championship, organised by the Samuel Okwaraji Foundation in collaboration with the Nigeria Football Federation and the Nigeria School Sports Federation, is sponsored by First Bank . The Foundation’s Steering Committee is chaired by Osita Izunaso.

According to the organisers, the competition will commence with state elimination rounds across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The state-wide phase of the tournament is scheduled to run from June 26 to July 5, after which state champions will advance to the zonal stage before the national finals at a later date.

The Samuel Okwaraji Foundation stated that the tournament is designed exclusively for secondary school students and is expected to make a significant impact on grassroots football development in the country.

Organisers noted that the championship is aimed at discovering, nurturing and providing opportunities for young football talents while promoting sports participation and healthy competition among students across Nigeria.

The competition also serves as a tribute to late Nigerian football icon Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji, who tragically died on August 12, 1989, during a FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Angola at the National Stadium in Lagos.

Stakeholders believe the championship will not only honour Okwaraji’s enduring legacy but also contribute to the development of future generations of football stars by providing a structured platform for talent identification and growth at the grassroots level.
With matches set to take place simultaneously across the country, the 2026 championship is expected to attract widespread participation from schools and further strengthen the pathway for young talents to progress into professional football and national team programmes.

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Sports

11 Days to AACT 2026: Munir Tijjani Assures of Nigeria’s Readiness, Government Support

Published

2 hours ago

October 22, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

With 11 days to the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT), the championship consultant, Munir Tijjani, has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s preparedness to host the continental women’s golf championship, citing the support of government agencies and key stakeholders.

Tijjani said preparations were progressing with the cooperation of relevant institutions and stakeholders, expressing optimism that Nigeria would deliver a successful championship that showcases the country’s organisational capacity and hospitality to participating African nations.

He noted that the support received from government agencies and other partners had been important to the preparations, helping to strengthen coordination and the arrangements required to welcome teams from across the continent.

The AACT consultant also assured participating countries and golfers that the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja would be open for the championship, expressing confidence in the venue’s readiness to host the competition.

The assurance comes as preparations enter their final phase ahead of the tournament, which will bring together women golfers representing their countries in a contest for continental honours.

For Nigeria, hosting the championship offers an opportunity to promote women’s golf, strengthen sporting relationships across Africa and showcase the country as a destination for international sporting events.

Nigeria will host the All Africa Challenge Trophy for the third time, following the 1996 edition at Ikoyi Club 1938 in Lagos and the 2010 championship at the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja.

The 2026 tournament is scheduled for November 2 to 7 at the Abuja golf course, with about 30 African countries expected to participate.

Under the slogan “Uniting Africa through the greens,” the championship aims to bring African nations together through women’s golf while creating opportunities for cultural exchange, tourism and broader continental cooperation.

With 11 days remaining, the Local Organising Committee and its partners are intensifying final preparations to ensure Nigeria welcomes Africa for a memorable championship.

11 DAYS TO GO.

AACT 2026: UNITING AFRICA THROUGH THE GREENS.

AFRICA IS COMING TO ABUJA.

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