Nigeria has taken a major step closer to hosting the Final Phase of the 2025/26 CAF African Schools Football Championship following a successful inspection tour by officials of the Confederation of African Football.
A seven-member CAF inspection team on Wednesday concluded a comprehensive two-day assessment of facilities earmarked for the tournament, expressing strong satisfaction with what Nigeria has put forward ahead of the continental youth showpiece.
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The inspection delegation was led by Omar Amr, CAF’s safeguarding expert, and visited key locations including the Remo Stars Sports Institute in Ikenne, the FC Ebedei Stadium and its surrounding facilities, the Babcock University Teaching Hospital, and the Babcock University Guest House. The tour focused on infrastructure, medical readiness, accommodation standards, safety protocols, logistics, and safeguarding frameworks critical to hosting a major CAF competition.
Launched four years ago, the CAF African Schools Football Championship is an annual under-15 tournament designed to nurture young football talent while reinforcing the importance of education across the continent. The competition is backed by a ten million dollar investment from the foundation owned by CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, and features zonal qualifiers across Africa before culminating in a continental finals tournament.
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Speaking during the inspection, Omar Amr revealed that the upcoming Final Phase will be the largest in the tournament’s history. A total of 24 teams are expected to participate, comprising eight boys’ teams and eight girls’ teams from CAF member associations, alongside eight invited teams from another FIFA confederation. This expansion marks a significant milestone for a competition that began in 2022.
The CAF delegation included Fatima Elmissaoui, African Schools Football Championship Officer; Herve Dassoundo, Marketing and Branding specialist; Mahmoud Amer, Travel and Logistics officer; Diabate Zakarhiya, Safety and Security expert; Hend Thabet, Travel and Accommodation officer; and Philippe Tchere, Executive Director of WAFU B.
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They were hosted by officials of the Nigeria Football Federation led by Director of Communications Dr Ademola Olajire and Deputy Director of Technical and Project General Coordinator Coach Abdulrafiu Yusuf. Also present were Mrs Oyinkansola Ajibola, General Manager of Beyond Limits Football Academy, and Mr Michael Onikute, who guided the inspectors through the facilities.
The CAF African Schools Football Championship continues to stand out for its strong developmental focus. Beyond competition, winning teams receive up to 300,000 dollars in infrastructural development support, a model designed to strengthen grassroots football ecosystems. The tournament also partners with global organizations such as the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization to deliver health and educational programs for young participants.
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The 2024 finals were hosted in Accra, Ghana, where Tanzania emerged as champions in the boys category and host nation Ghana claimed the girls title.
The final phase of the 2025-26 edition is scheduled to take place in April, and indications from the inspection suggest Nigeria is well positioned to host.
At the conclusion of the assessment, CAF inspectors were unequivocal in their praise, describing the facilities as outstanding. One member of the delegation reportedly told Remo Stars Football Club President and proprietor of the Remo Stars Sports Institute, Hon. Kunle Soname, that the institute remains the best football facility he has seen anywhere in West Africa.
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The Nigerian delegation involved in the inspection included Dr. Ademola Olajire, Director of Media and Communications; Abdulrafiu Yusuf, Deputy Director of Technical and Project General Coordinator; Dr. Ayo Abdulrahman, Deputy Director of Competitions; Barnabas Joro, Safety and Security Officer; Emmanuel Ayanbunmi, Protocol Officer; Bamaiyi, Protocol Officer, Mohammed Ameenu, Safeguarding Officer, and Tasiu Riskuwa Shehu, Team Secretary.
With glowing reviews from CAF and world-class infrastructure on display, Nigeria’s ambition to host Africa’s premier school football tournament appears firmly on course.
