CAF TEAM TO INSPECT OGUN VENUES FOR 2026 SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIP

By: Gyang Dakwo

Officials of the Confederation of African Football are expected in Nigeria on Monday, 2 February, as the country pushes to host the final phase of the 2026 CAF African Schools Football Championship.

The CAF delegation will carry out a 2-day inspection on Tuesday and Wednesday in Ikenne Remo and Sagamu, both in Ogun State, and the visit will focus on match venues, training facilities, and other support services.

The Director of Media and Communications of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ademola Olajire, who confirmed the visit in a statement said the exercise is part of CAF’s evaluation process.

According to the NFF, the team will inspect the Remo Stars Stadium and training pitches in Ikenne Remo, while the inspection in Sagamu will include the FC Ebedei Stadium, training facilities, nearby hospitals, and hotel accommodation.

The CAF African Schools Football Championship was introduced 4 years ago as an annual Under 15 competition, and it was designed to grow youth football while supporting education across Africa. It features boys’ and girls’ categories and is backed by a 10-million-dollar investment from the Dr Patrice Motsepe Foundation.

The last finals were held in Accra, Ghana, where Tanzania won the boys title, and Ghana claimed the girls title, and winners received up to 300,000 dollars for infrastructure development.

The competition also works with partners such as UNICEF and the World Health Organization, and the goal is to promote health education and welfare among young players.

The inspection visit is a key step in Nigeria’s bid, and CAF is expected to rely on the outcome before making a final decision on the host of the 2026 finals.