Nigerian Navy reaffirms youth empowerment through sports at CNS/NOWA Cup in Kaduna

By Dayo Awoniyi

The Nigerian Navy has reiterated its unwavering commitment to youth empowerment and national unity through sports as the 21st edition of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) U14 Boys and Naval Officers Wives Association (NOWA) U17 Girls Soccer Tournament kicked off in Kaduna.

The annual grassroots football event, organized in collaboration with the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), has attracted teams from 18 states across the country, along with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, lauded the enduring partnership between the Navy and YSFON, noting that the tournament has over the years produced football talents who have gone on to achieve international recognition.

“The Navy is committed to sustaining this initiative, which provides a crucial avenue for Nigerian youths to demonstrate their skills and pursue their dreams,” said Vice Admiral Ogalla, while encouraging participants to embrace discipline, fair play, and teamwork.

Also addressing the gathering, Mrs. Ijeoma Ogalla, President of NOWA and wife of the Chief of Naval Staff, charged the young athletes to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship.

“I wish all the teams success and officially declare the tournament open,” she said.

In the U14 Boys category, the quarter-final lineup features Kaduna vs. Kogi, Enugu vs. Kebbi, Kwara vs. Bauchi, and Niger vs. Bayelsa. Semifinal and final matches will follow, with the closing ceremony scheduled for Saturday, May 24, at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium.

Meanwhile, in the NOWA U17 Girls category, Enugu, Plateau, and Ondo have booked their places in the semifinals. The final slot will be determined by the outcome of the ongoing match between the Nigerian Army and host state Kaduna.

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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