By Andrew Abah, Abuja
The 2026 Edition of the FirstBank/Samuel Okwaraji Foundation Under-16 National All-Secondary Schools Championship is set to begin across Nigeria, rekindling excitement among secondary school students and football enthusiasts nationwide.
The championship, organised by the Samuel Okwaraji Foundation in collaboration with the Nigeria Football Federation and the Nigeria School Sports Federation, is sponsored by First Bank. The Foundation’s Steering Committee is chaired by Osita Izunaso.
According to the organisers, the competition will commence with state elimination rounds across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The state-wide phase of the tournament is scheduled to run from June 26 to July 5, after which state champions will advance to the zonal stage before the national finals at a later date.
The Samuel Okwaraji Foundation stated that the tournament is designed exclusively for secondary school students and is expected to make a significant impact on grassroots football development in the country.
Organisers noted that the championship is aimed at discovering, nurturing and providing opportunities for young football talents while promoting sports participation and healthy competition among students across Nigeria.
The competition also serves as a tribute to late Nigerian football icon Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji, who tragically died on August 12, 1989, during a FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Angola at the National Stadium in Lagos.
Stakeholders believe the championship will not only honour Okwaraji’s enduring legacy but also contribute to the development of future generations of football stars by providing a structured platform for talent identification and growth at the grassroots level.
With matches set to take place simultaneously across the country, the 2026 championship is expected to attract widespread participation from schools and further strengthen the pathway for young talents to progress into professional football and national team programmes.
