Ekiti students join Team Nigeria for Africa Schools Football Championship

Ekiti State has again taken centre stage in youth sports development as four students from Ekiti Parapo College, Ido-Ekiti, have been selected to represent Nigeria at the 2025 CAF Schools Football Championship zonal qualifiers. The qualifiers, which fall under the West African Football Union (WAFU B) zone, will hold throughout the week in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

The championship brings together the best young footballers from across West Africa, offering a platform for early talent discovery and international exposure. Nigeria will be competing in the male category only, with the contingent ready to showcase the nation’s strength in grassroots football development.

In the group stage draw released by CAF, Nigeria has been placed in Group B alongside Cote d’Ivoire and Benin Republic. Group A features host nation Burkina Faso, perennial football heavyweight Ghana, and Niger Republic. The two groups will battle for semifinal spots in what promises to be a highly competitive tournament.

Nigeria’s campaign will kick off on Monday with an opening fixture against Cote d’Ivoire at 11 a.m. at the Stade in Ouagadougou. The team will then return to action on Tuesday for their second group match against Benin Republic at 9 a.m. These early fixtures are expected to determine Nigeria’s chances of advancing to the knockout stage.

According to CAF’s match schedule, the semifinals will take place on Wednesday, while the third-place match and the grand finale will be held on Thursday. The tournament structure ensures that all participating teams gain valuable match experience within a compact but intense competition window.

Team Nigeria features 19 players drawn from secondary schools across the country, all of whom qualified through a national selection tournament held in Abuja two months ago. The selection process was designed to ensure fairness, competitiveness, and representation from all geo-political zones.

Ekiti State stands out proudly in the squad with four players making the final list: Ayomide Adeleke, a midfielder known for his ball control and tactical discipline; Marcus Adeyanju, a sharp and pacey forward; Abdulrazzaq Mufutau, another attacking talent with strong finishing abilities; and Tobiloba Adedeji, a reliable defender with excellent game-reading skills. All four are students of Ekiti Parapo College, Ido-Ekiti.

Their selection is regarded as a major endorsement of Ekiti State’s sustained investment in grassroots sports, particularly through the Ekiti State Sports Development Programme. Over the past few years, the programme has continued to identify and groom young athletes through school competitions, training support, and partnerships with local coaches.

Sports stakeholders in Ekiti have expressed pride in the achievement, describing it as proof that strategic investment in school sports yields tangible results. The inclusion of four players from one school in the national squad highlights the strength of talent development at Ekiti Parapo College and within the state at large.

With the tournament now underway, Ekiti State and indeed Nigeria will be watching closely as the young stars take on West Africa’s best. Their participation not only advances their personal football dreams but also strengthens Nigeria’s reputation for producing exceptional youth football talent.