Sports
U-13 Soccer Competition To Hold In Abuja
Six Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are expected to vie for honours at the annual U-13 football competition organised by the FOSLA Academy.
The one-day competition scheduled to hold in the school premises at Karshi, Abuja, on April 6, would have over 150 young footballers participating in the event.
Dr John Ogbadu, Chairman of the Academy’s Board, told newsmen in Abuja, that the competition was aimed at identifying talents who were eager to combine football with academics.
He noted that the school was committed to producing players who would excel both in football and their educational pursuits.
According to Ogbadu, when identified, the talented footballers will be given scholarship to study at the institution, founded by Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA).
He added that the scholarships would subsist up to the tertiary level.
“The players must be within the age range of 13 years and must be in Primary Six and they are expected to resume alongside other fee-paying students next academic session.
“A total of 31 players are presently enjoying the scholarships in the school.
“ It would interest you to know that FOSLA academy remains the only privately-owned secondary school in Nigeria that has football embedded in its curriculum.
“It’s tailored in accordance with the National Policy on Education,’’ Ogbadu said.
He added that eight of the academy’s players had been shortlisted for possible invitation to the national U-13 male football team, whenever it would converge this year.
Ogbadu explained that the development was an outcome of the feat achieved by the academy in the 2012 NFA U-13 Championship, where its players formed the bulk of the FCT team that won the tournament.
He explained that the academy had in the last one year played 15 friendly matches, winning 12 and drawing three.
In a statement released by the league, the competition is scheduled to take place from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 14, 2026, with six clubs set to battle for the league title at the end of the 2025/26 season.
NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi, said the choice of Port Harcourt reflects the Rivers State Government’s continued support for women’s football and its successful hosting of the league’s Annual General Assembly last year.
The Super Six tournament will feature the top three teams from Group A and Group B of the regular season competing in a round-robin format, with each club playing five matches over nine days.
Qualified teams for the competition include defending champions Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, Rivers Angels, Robo Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, and debutants Abia Angels.
The NWFL Premiership has produced four different winners in the last five editions, with Rivers Angels winning in 2021, Bayelsa Queens claiming the title in 2022 and 2025, Delta Queens triumphing in 2023, and Edo Queens emerging champions in 2024.
The league also urged participating clubs to comply with all competition regulations and directives ahead of the championship. The Super Six will determine Nigeria’s representative for the WAFU-B qualifiers for a place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League and ultimately the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
Teams are expected to arrive on Friday, June 5, when the draw ceremony and pre-match meeting will also take place. Matchdays are scheduled for June 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, with rest days in between before the tournament concludes with the trophy presentation ceremony.
