By Dayo Awoniyi
The Jagaban Cup, a youth football tournament, kicked off on Monday at the Legacy Pitch, with host Hajji Gafar Liameed expressing optimism that the competition will uncover the next generation of football talent.
After witnessing the four opening-day matches, Gafar commended the players’ performances, highlighting the presence of scouts who were impressed by the skills on display.
Gafar shared that foreign scouts had already approached him, inquiring about at least six players who had caught their eye.
He expressed enthusiasm about the potential for discovering new talent, noting the youthful energy, fluidity of play, and fast-paced action throughout the games.
“The tournament has been an exciting showcase of talent, and it’s clear that we have players who could go far,” Gafar said.
“I’m thrilled that scouts are taking notice. This is just the beginning.”
The hosts also outlined his vision for the tournament’s growth, emphasizing plans to eventually involve clubs from various regions across the country.
Currently, the competition is focused on Lagos and the Southwest, with four teams from each region participating.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
