Preparations are in top gear for the 2026 Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Pre-Season Tournament, popularly known as the Gusau/Ahlan Cup, with several top-flight and second-tier clubs confirming their participation ahead of the competition.
Sports247 reports that the tournament, organised in honour of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, MON (Kigon Gusau), will hold from August 7 to 18, 2026, at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina State.
Speaking on the level of preparations, the tournament’s General Coordinator, Abahuraira Dahiru, disclosed that defending champions Kano Pillars FC and 2025 runners-up Plateau United FC have officially confirmed their participation as they seek another successful outing.
Other Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clubs expected to feature include Katsina United, Barau FC, Niger Tornadoes, Nasarawa United, Doma United, Ranchers Bees FC, Sporting Lagos FC, and Inter Lagos FC, promising another exciting edition of the pre-season competition.
The tournament will also welcome several Nigeria National League (NNL) clubs, including Wikki Tourists FC, Lobi Stars FC, Jigawa Golden Stars FC, alongside other invited teams, providing lower-tier sides with an opportunity to test themselves against elite opposition ahead of the new campaign.
According to Dahiru, preparations for the competition have reached an advanced stage, with the Local Organising Committee working tirelessly to ensure a successful tournament.
He further revealed that the Organising Committee, chaired by Alhaji Sabo Abdullahi Dutse, Chairman of the Jigawa State Football Association, has fixed August 2, 2026, as the deadline for registration of participating clubs.
The Gusau/Ahlan Cup has continued to establish itself as one of Nigeria’s foremost pre-season tournaments, offering clubs a competitive platform to assess their squads, integrate new signings, and fine-tune tactical approaches ahead of the 2026/27 football season.
With an impressive lineup of participating teams already confirmed, fans can look forward to another entertaining edition as clubs intensify preparations for the new domestic campaign.
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