A high-powered delegation from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) arrived in Nigeria on Monday to begin a critical inspection of facilities proposed to host the final phase of the 2026 CAF African Schools Football Championship.
CAF Begins Facility Assessment in Ogun State
The inspection, which began on Tuesday, is centred on the Remo Stars Stadium and training pitches in Ikenne-Remo, alongside the FC Ebedei Stadium and training facilities in Sagamu. CAF officials are also evaluating hospital and hotel infrastructure in both towns to ensure they meet the competition’s hosting requirements.
Championship Backed by $10m Motsepe Foundation Investment
Launched in 2022, the CAF African Schools Football Championship is an annual schools football competition organised by CAF to promote structured grassroots football development for boys and girls across Africa.
The tournament is regarded as the continent’s largest grassroots youth football initiative and is backed by a $10 million investment from the foundation owned by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe.
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NFF Confirms Arrival of CAF Delegation
Confirming the inspection, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said the CAF delegation arrived in Nigeria on Monday and immediately began assessing facilities at the Remo Stars Stadium.
“The CAF officials arrived on Monday and are presently conducting the inspection,” said Dr Ademola Olajire, Director of Media and Communications at the NFF.
Focus on Youth Development and Education
According to the NFF, the championship is designed to discover and nurture young male and female football talents while promoting education.
“The CAF African Schools Football Championship, launched four years ago, is an annual U15 tournament to develop youth football and promote education across the African continent,” the NFF stated.
“It is supported by a $10 million investment from the Foundation owned by CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, and features zonal qualifiers leading to the continental final tournament.”
Previous Winners and Prize Structure
The competition was last staged in 2025 in Accra, Ghana, where Tanzania’s boys’ team and Ghana’s girls’ team emerged champions. Both winners received $300,000 each in infrastructural development funding.
“The competition is for both boys and girls. Winners receive up to $300,000 in infrastructural development support, and the tournament is delivered in partnership with organisations such as UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to promote health education,” the statement added.
CAF Officials on Inspection Tour
The CAF delegation for the inspection includes Omar Amr (Safeguarding), Fatima Elmissaoui (African Schools Football Championship Officer), Herve Dassoundo (Marketing and Branding), Mahmoud Amer (Travel and Logistics), Diabate Zakarhiya (Safety and Security), Hend Thabet (Travel and Accommodation), Joshua Knipp (ASFC Competition), as well as the WAFU B Executive Director, Philippe Tchere.
Inspection Timeline
The inspection of competition venues and ancillary facilities in Ikenne-Remo and Sagamu is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
