40th Ramat U-16 Boys’ Football Tournament launches in Lafia amid festivities

By Dayo Awoniyi

The 40th edition of the Ramat U-16 Boys’ Football Tournament officially kicked off on Sunday in Lafia, Nasarawa State, with a vibrant opening ceremony that defied heavy rainfall. The week-long tournament is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s premier youth football events.

Organised by the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Government and the State Football Association, the tournament has attracted teams from 20 states, with additional participants expected in the coming days.

In the group stages, Nasarawa will compete against Kwara, Plateau, and Sokoto. Other groups feature teams such as FCT, Benue, Ondo, Kebbi, Enugu, and Kaduna. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout rounds, culminating in the grand finale scheduled for August 16.

Speaking to the press, YSFON National Technical Director Abdulgafar Agboola highlighted the tournament’s historic role in nurturing young talent since its inception in 1977. He praised its international appeal, noting participation from countries like Ghana, Benin Republic, Niger, and Norway.

Agboola also commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for bringing the event back to Nasarawa after more than two decades in Kano, describing the state as “peaceful, welcoming, and passionate about football.”

Nasarawa YSFON Chairman Suleiman Usman Bako expressed pride in hosting this milestone edition, acknowledging the support of national sports leadership and the governor’s commitment.

He also thanked the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the State Football Association for their contributions.

The tournament was officially declared open by State FA Chairman Salisu Usman Galadima, who performed the symbolic kickoff to launch a week of competitive football. Anticipation is high for day two fixtures, which include matches between Plateau and Sokoto, FCT and Benue, Ondo and Kebbi, and Enugu and Kaduna.

Named in honour of Nigeria’s late Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, the Ramat Cup continues to promote sportsmanship, unity, and the discovery of future football stars.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.

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