By Andrew Abah, Abuja
The 2026 edition of the FirstBank/Samuel Okwaraji Foundation Under-16 National All Secondary Schools Championship will commence across Nigeria on June 26, organisers have announced.
The Samuel Okwaraji Foundation, which its Steering Committee is Chaired by Senator Osita Izunazo disclosed that the competition, which is sponsored by FirstBank Plc, will begin with state elimination rounds in all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
According to him, the state-wide championship, scheduled to run from June 26 to July 5, will determine the state champions who will advance to the zonal stage of the competition.
Following the state qualifiers, the successful teams will compete in the zonal championships before progressing to the national finals, the date for which will be announced later in the year.
The Foundation further explained that the tournament is designed exclusively for secondary school students and is being organised in collaboration with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF).
They noted that the championship aims to discover and nurture young football talents across the country while promoting grassroots sports development through structured school competitions. The competition will be played in three stages.
The first tier is the state-wide championship to select representatives for the zonal competitions. The second tier will be the zonal championships, while the third and final tier will be the national championship.
The tournament is organised in honour of former Super Eagles midfielder Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji, who tragically passed away on August 12, 1989, during a FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Angola at the National Stadium, Lagos.
Organisers have expressed optimism that the championship will provide a platform for young players to showcase their abilities and contribute to the continued development of football at the grassroots level in Nigeria.
