Senate President Godswill Akpabio has renewed the call for Nigeria to revive its grassroots football system, warning that the country’s football future may remain uncertain if young talents are not discovered and nurtured from local communities.
Speaking in Abuja at the opening of the second edition of the Senate President’s U-18 Unity Cup, Akpabio emphasized that youth competitions are vital for rebuilding Nigeria’s football legacy. The tournament, which he instituted to promote unity and talent discovery, attracted 21 teams—16 male and five female—from different regions of the country.
Okay News reports that Akpabio, represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports Development, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, said the Unity Cup aims to rebuild the grassroots structure that once produced the country’s football legends.
“With these young men showcasing their talents, this is the future of Nigeria, and there is no way you can grow sports if we don’t go to the grassroots,” he said. “In times past, the Late Keshis, the Okochas, the Kanus, the Amokachis, the Ikpebas and the Tijani Babangidas, who brought glory to Nigeria, were discovered in these kinds of tournaments.”
He noted that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown serious interest in sports development, describing it as an opportunity for sports administrators to prioritize youth engagement.
“I have seen tremendous signal from President Bola Tinubu in putting sports on the front burner; therefore, sports administrators must key into this opportunity that the President has shown in the last two years. It should not be business as usual,” Akpabio added.
Akpabio assured that the U-18 Unity Cup would be sustained annually to produce players capable of representing Nigeria in major continental and international tournaments.
Tournament Coordinator, Hon. John Bassey Ekpenyong, commended the Senate President for his commitment to youth development through sports, stressing that such initiatives help to promote unity and national growth.
“This will ensure that future generations of Nigerian youth continue to benefit from this platform, promoting unity, sportsmanship, and national development,” Ekpenyong said.
In the opening game of the tournament, Jaguar Football Club of Abia defeated Amahus Football Club of Yobe 1–0.
Nigeria once had a strong grassroots football culture during the 1980s and 1990s, which produced many international stars such as Rashidi Yekini, Stephen Keshi, Nwankwo Kanu, Daniel Amokachi, and Austin Okocha. However, the system declined due to inadequate funding, poor school sports programs, and lack of private sector support, leading to a shrinking pool of local talents.
Observers say Akpabio’s U-18 Unity Cup could mark a new beginning for reviving the nation’s football pipeline if sustained with proper investment and management.
