The Ayomidiran Foundation is thrilled to unveil the revised schedule for its inaugural “Girls Play Sports” Women’s Football Tournament, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering young girls and advancing sports development throughout Nigeria.
On Friday, Honorable Ayo Omidiran, CEO of the Ayomidiran Foundation and Chairman of the Organizing Committee shared her enthusiasm about the project, stressing the foundation’s quest to leverage football as a tool for promoting gender equality, reducing social issues, and uniting Nigerian youth.
“This tournament is more than just a football competition; it’s an opportunity to create pathways and build a brighter future for our young girls,” Omidiran said.
Endorsed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the tournament will feature non-league amateur clubs from across Nigeria. The inaugural tournament is set to run from August 30 to October 1, 2024.
The Southern Zone preliminaries will kick off on September 14, 2024, and run through September 21, 2024, in Ogun, Oyo, Lagos, and Bayelsa States respectively.
Following this, the Northern Zone preliminaries will be held from September 22 to September 28, 2024, in Jos, Ilorin, Abuja, and Gombe. Eight teams from each region will advance to the playoff finals, with the victors progressing to the Grand Finale.
A total of 64 teams will compete in the maiden edition, with 30 teams from the Northern Zone and 34 teams from the Southern Zone. The competition will consist of preliminary rounds and playoffs, culminating in the Grand Finale, scheduled for October 1, 2024, in Abuja.
The Ayomidiran Foundation remains steadfast in its mission to foster youth empowerment and sports development across Nigeria, focusing on unlocking the potential of young girls and offering them a platform to shine on a national stage.
