CAF Officials Arrive in Nigeria for Inspection Ahead of African Schools Football Championship Finals

Officials from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will arrive in Nigeria on Monday to inspect facilities proposed to host the 2026 CAF African Schools Football Championship (ASFC) Final Phase.

The CAF African Schools Football Championship, launched four years ago, is an annual U-15 competition designed to promote youth football development while reinforcing the importance of education across Africa. The tournament is backed by a $10 million investment from the CAF Foundation, owned by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, and is structured around zonal qualifiers that culminate in a continental finals event.

The competition features both boys’ and girls’ categories. The 2024 finals, held in Accra, Ghana, saw Tanzania’s boys and Ghana’s girls emerge as champions. Beyond trophies, winning teams benefit significantly, with prizes of up to $300,000 earmarked for infrastructural development. The championship also incorporates strong social impact elements through partnerships with organisations such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), particularly in the area of health education.

CAF’s inspection delegation includes Omar Amr (Safeguarding), Fatima Elmissaoui (ASFC Officer), Hervé Dassoundo (Marketing & Branding), Mahmoud Amer (Travel & Logistics), Diabate Zakarhiya (Safety & Security), Hend Thabet (Travel & Accommodation), Joshua Knipp (ASFC Competition), and Philippe Tchere, Executive Director of WAFU B.

The inspection exercise is scheduled for Tuesday, 3 February, and Wednesday, 4 February 2026, with officials set to tour proposed competition and ancillary venues in Ikenne-Remo and Sagamu.

Key facilities to be assessed include the Remo Stars Stadium and training pitches in Ikenne-Remo, the FC Ebedei Stadium and training pitches in Sagamu, as well as hospitals and hotel accommodations within both towns.

The visit represents a crucial step in Nigeria’s bid to host the prestigious youth tournament and underscores CAF’s commitment to ensuring high standards for player welfare, infrastructure, logistics, and overall tournament delivery.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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