By Dayo Awoniyi
A delegation from the West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone B, led by Executive Director Philippe Tchere, conducted an inspection visit to Ogun State, Nigeria, from June 25 to 29, 2025, ahead of the U17 Boys Qualifier Tournament.
The team, which included WAFU B’s competitions manager and communications manager, assessed hotel infrastructure, stadiums, and other sporting facilities to determine their readiness to host the regional tournament.
The inspection covered multiple cities across Ogun State, with the delegation evaluating the quality of accommodations, proximity to match venues, and availability of essential equipment for teams and officials.
“This visit is part of our commitment to ensuring a smooth and well-organized tournament,” said Tchere during the visit.
“By inspecting the facilities firsthand, we can identify any areas that need improvement and collaborate with the state and local organizing committee to resolve them.”
The U17 Boys Qualifier Tournament will bring together youth teams from across West Africa, with the aim of securing qualification to the next stage of continental competition. The event is expected to serve as a platform for emerging talent and to further strengthen football development in the region.
The successful completion of the inspection marks a key milestone in preparations, with WAFU B expressing confidence in Ogun State’s ability to host a competitive and well-run tournament.
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.
