The maiden edition of the National Secondary School Invitational Football Tournament is set to kick off from February 21st to 23rd, 2025, at the Family Worship Center pitch, Wuye, Abuja, with over 100 students registered to participate.
A total of eight teams—six invited schools and two wildcard teams—will compete in the tournament, which aims to discover talented young footballers at the secondary school level. While all registered students will be eligible for scholarships, only six schools will have a chance to win the giant trophy:
Glisten International Academy
Britarch Schools
Royal Family Academy, Wuye
Faith Academy, Abuja
Lugbe Titans
International Secondary School, Owerri
The two wildcard teams, Right Value Selected and Pioneers Selected, will participate but are ineligible to win the trophy.
Tournament Designed to Merge Education with Football
At a press conference on Friday, Emmanuel Babayaro, CEO of the Godfather Emmanuel Babayaro Foundation and a 1996 Olympic gold medalist, emphasized that the competition presents a life-changing opportunity for young players.
Scouts, appointed by USA collegiate programs, will evaluate players for potential scholarships, with selections backed by video evidence and performance statistics.
“There is no limit to the number of beneficiaries. Once a player meets the criteria, they will be chosen,” Babayaro assured.
FGMB Commended for Sponsorship
Babayaro praised First Generation Mortgage Bank (FGMB) for sponsoring the initiative, acknowledging their swift support in making the tournament a reality.
FGMB’s Group Head, Nelson John, highlighted the bank’s commitment to securing the future of young talents. “We believe those who combine education with talent will become superstars, and FGMB is the bank for superstars,” he stated.
Industry Experts Predict Tournament’s Success
Renowned football coach James Peters, appointed as the tournament’s scout, commended FGMB for its investment in the initiative, predicting that the discovered talents will shape the future of Nigerian football.
Former Super Eagles and Beijing Olympics silver medalist Femi Ajilore also praised the initiative, emphasizing its potential to benefit not only the young players but Nigerian football as a whole.
The National Secondary School Invitational Football Tournament is set to be a stepping stone for many young athletes, merging education and football to create a brighter future for Nigeria’s next generation of football stars.
