Lagos FA boss Hajji Gafar named as South West coordinator for U19 NPFL Youth Championship

By Dayo Awoniyi

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Hajji Gafar Olawale Liameed, Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, as the South West Coordinator for the 2025 U19 NPFL Youth Championship.

The appointment highlights Gafar’s growing influence in Nigerian football administration and his longstanding commitment to grassroots development. Known for his progressive leadership and consistent investment in youth football, Gafar has become a prominent figure in driving football growth at the state and regional levels.

In a statement announcing the appointment, the NFF praised his “unwavering commitment to the growth of sports in Nigeria and his passion for youth development through football.”

As South West Coordinator, Hajji Gafar will oversee the planning, logistics, and execution of the tournament within the region, ensuring it aligns with the championship’s core objective: to identify and develop the next generation of Nigerian football talent.

The U19 NPFL Youth Championship is a flagship youth initiative designed by the NFF to create a structured, competitive platform for emerging players, providing exposure and a potential pathway into professional football.

News of the appointment has been met with widespread approval within the football community, with many stakeholders applauding the move as timely and strategic. Observers have expressed confidence that Gafar’s leadership will bring structure, visibility, and professionalism to the regional execution of the tournament.

With preparations for the 2025 edition gaining momentum, attention will now turn to the South West, where Hajji Gafar is expected to lead efforts to discover Nigeria’s future 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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