Former Super Eagles captain and Milo Ambassador Ahmed Musa, MON, has pledged a personal cash reward of ₦1.8 million to the top three teams at the ongoing Milo Under-13 Football Tournament in Kano State.
Musa will reward the champions with ₦1 million, while the runners-up will receive ₦500,000 and the third-placed team ₦300,000.
The final is scheduled for Thursday at the Ahmed Musa Sports Arena in Kano, with 16 teams having competed for the title and the opportunity to showcase their talents.
Speaking ahead of the final, Musa said his decision to support the tournament was driven by his desire to revive school sports and create a stronger pathway for young Nigerian footballers.
“God has blessed Nigeria with abundant, skilful and talented players who need encouragement and support to project the image of the country,” Musa said.
The former Kano Pillars player and General Manager stressed that sustained investment in school and grassroots competitions remains essential to discovering the next generation of Nigerian stars.
According to Musa, young players need more than talent to succeed, with competitions at an early age providing the exposure, experience and encouragement required to develop their abilities.
He also called for greater participation from corporate organisations in grassroots sports, saying increased investment would help identify and nurture players capable of representing Nigeria at national and international levels.
Musa praised Nestlé Milo for its long-standing commitment to youth football and urged other companies to follow suit by investing in school and grassroots competitions.
Nestlé Milo has also announced additional prize money of ₦500,000 for the champions, ₦300,000 for the runners-up and ₦200,000 for the third-placed team.
The combined rewards have added further incentive to a tournament aimed at promoting youth development and strengthening Nigeria’s grassroots football pipeline.
For Musa, however, the initiative goes beyond winning trophies and prize money.
His intervention reflects a growing call for former internationals, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to play a greater role in developing young talents before they reach the professional level.
The final is expected to attract sports and corporate personalities, including Milo Category Manager Gilbert Teenaboah Koduah and Sports Marketing Manager Mrs Funmilola Oyewole.
With the Ahmed Musa reward scheme adding another layer of motivation, the Kano final promises to be a celebration of young talent and the continued search for Nigeria’s next generation of football stars.
