Kano Sate will host the 2026 edition of the President Bola Tinubu renewed hope football cup in September.
Sani Musa-Danja, the Special Adviser on Sports and Youth development to Gov. Abba Yusuf, stated this on Monday while addressing newsmen on the forthcoming tournament tagged “The Game Changer”.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the tournament is in partnership with the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.
He said the tournament was designed to use football as a tool to promote peace, youth development and also take the youths away from social vices among others.
Mr Danja described the renewed hope cup as the first of its kind.
“Now engaging youth in one thing or the other, bring peace and disabuse their mind from engaging in social vices and things that will harm the state or the country at large.
He said that bringing all the 19 Northern States for this wonderful Renewed Hope Cup is a game changer.
“We want to bring the youths of the 19 northern states together on this very special football tournament, the Game Changer Tournament, which is backed by Gov. Yusuf,” he said.
He said that the governor is supporting and hosting the tournament because of the love he has for Mr. President and the youths, bringing them together in peace and unity.
Also speaking, the Technical Director of the competition, Abdulgafar Oladimeji said the tournament would serve as a platform to build capacity of northern football and support staff towards grassroots sport development across the region.
He said the competition was also aimed to promote peace, social interaction, scout for fresh talents and boosting economy of the state.
Mr Oladimeji said the tournament is aimed at projecting the renewed hope agenda in line with the sport development policy of the Federal Government.
The tournament which will be played in a group phase before the knockouts, will have the final played at the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium.
The winners will receive ₦10 million as prize money, while the second and third-placed teams will get N5 million and N2 million respectively.
The organisers said that the prize money is aimed at rewarding excellence and encouraging productivity among the youths through sports and fostering stronger ties among communities in the North.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the two weeks interstate tournament is expected to bring together youths from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT for social cohesion.
NAN
