Group organizes U-19 football tournament for Nigeria, Ghana

Photo 1 :From left Coach Ifeanyi Nwosu, Enugu State Coordinator, Prince Emeka Nwankwo, the CEO & Lady Jenny Anusiem, the Project Manager.

Photo 2 : Members of the organizing team of 2025 Game On-Afrika Tournament (G.O.A.T) UK- Nigeria-Ghana. Photo by Everest Ezihe, Owerri

From Everest Ezihe, Owerri

A non governmental organization, NGO under the auspices of Game-On Afirka Limited has advanced plans to organize an U-19 football tournament between Nigeria and Ghana as part of their commitments towards discovery of budding talents and exposing them to greater opportunities of human endaevour.

The overall winner of the tournament will be taken to United Kingdom to play friendlies with English clubs before international scouts and for potential life time opportunities.

Prince Emeka Nwankwo, a Nigeria born United Kingdom, based football administrator who inadvertently is the Chief Executive Officer of the NGO disclosed this on Tuesday in Owerri while briefing Sports Journalists concerning the tournament at the prestigious hotel in New Owerri, Imo State capital.

Nwankwo who hails from Umulolo Obowo in Imo State, a son of a renowned teacher and school sports administrator, late Chief Lawrence Nwankwo, informed that this maiden edition of the tournament is tagged 2025 Game On-Afrika Tournament,(G.O.A.T), UK- Nigeria -Ghana with the mission and vision of creating tomorrow’s champions.

He pointed out that the tournament is being sponsored by Afreximbank and that the registration is ongoing through the four Zonal centres in Nigeria and could be accessible through their website, www.gameonafrika.com.

The CEO decried the ravaging effects of insecurities in Nigeria as well as lack of structural grassroot developmental football as being practiced by football administrators in advanced countries.

Adding her voice, Lady Jenny Anusiem,the tournament’s Project Coordinator and CEO of Imo Angels FC, Owerri reiterated that the tournament is designed to create opportunities for under aged footballers within both countries by exposing their skills and potentials.

Anusiem disclosed that the four selected zonal centers hosting the great tournament in Nigeria are Imo, Enugu, Lagos and Abuja, and that the registration which is ongoing will end on Tuesday 30th September in Nigeria while Ghana ends on Thursday 2nd October.

She also informed that the registration fee is 50k per a club in Nigeria while Ghana registration is 1000cfa, winner goes home with 5000cfa, second place 3000cfa, while Nigerian team winner takes home 1m and second place 500K.

The Project Manager further informed that the overall winner in Nigeria team will travel to Ghana to play with the overall winner of Ghana team, then the Ghana team will then play a return match in Nigeria so as to have the final winner from any of the country’s representatives.

“It’s this ambassador that finally emerged overall winner, that’s either Nigeria U-19 Team or Ghana U-19 Team that will have the privilege and honour to be taking to United Kingdom, UK by next year, to play with the continent’s best U-19 teams and be more exposed to international scouts.

“It’s a great opportunity for both countries youths under the vision of Africa Exchange, that’s Nigeria and Ghana, thus it’s necessary for each of the country to select their best budding talents” she advised.

Anusiem further disclosed that the tournament will commence in Nigeria on Saturday 4th October 2025 while that of Ghana starts on Tuesday 7th October, 2025, as the registration is still ongoing through the aforementioned website.

Also speaking, Mr. Felix Nwosu, the Rangers International FC, Enugu, U-19 coach and the tournament coordinator in Enugu State, assured of strictness in terms of fairness and transparency for age determination and selections.

Nwosu reemphasised that the organizers are detailed to make use of NIN registration, international passport, birth certificate or church baptisimal card of each player as parts of the age identification requirements.

He also said that the tournament is a Nigerian thing, and any of the clubs can participate from any State of the federation but within the confines of any of the four zones closer to them.

Mr.Neville Okere, Imo State Coordinator noted sports journalists as germaine in the overall organization of the tournament.

Okere reiterated that the essence of the tournament is to create great opportunities for youthful footballers to excel both nationally and internationally.