A seven-man inspection team from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has concluded its assessment of facilities proposed by Nigeria to host the Final Phase of the 2025/26 CAF African Schools Football Championship, with early indications pointing to a strong endorsement of the country’s preparedness.
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The CAF delegation, led by Omar Amr, Head of Safeguarding, carried out a comprehensive inspection on Wednesday, touring key facilities earmarked for the tournament.
These included the Remo Stars Sports Institute, FC Ebedei Stadium, Babcock University Teaching Hospital, and the Babcock University Guest House.
Launched four years ago, the CAF African Schools Football Championship is a flagship U15 competition designed to combine youth football development with education, serving as a cornerstone of CAF’s long-term grassroots strategy.
The tournament is supported by a $10 million investment from the foundation of CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, and features zonal qualifiers across the continent before culminating in a continental finals event.
Speaking during the inspection, Amr disclosed that the 2025/26 edition will be the largest Final Phase since the competition began in 2022. According to him, 24 teams are expected to participate, comprising eight boys’ teams and eight girls’ teams from Africa, alongside eight invited teams from another FIFA confederation.
The most recent finals were staged in Accra, Ghana, in 2024, where Tanzania emerged champions in the boys’ category, while hosts Ghana claimed the girls’ title.
Beyond competition, the championship offers substantial developmental incentives, with winning teams receiving up to $300,000 in infrastructural development support.
The initiative also benefits from strategic partnerships with global organisations such as UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), reinforcing its focus on education, health awareness and youth welfare.
The Final Phase of the 2025/26 CAF African Schools Football Championship is scheduled to take place in April.
At the end of the inspection tour, CAF officials expressed strong satisfaction with the facilities presented. One member of the delegation was quoted as telling Remo Stars FC President and proprietor of the Remo Stars Sports Institute, Hon. Kunle Soname, that the complex ranks as the best he has encountered anywhere in West Africa.
The positive feedback significantly boosts Nigeria’s prospects of securing hosting rights for the prestigious youth tournament, further underlining the country’s growing reputation as a hub for elite football development infrastructure on the continent.
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