Chukwuebuka Ugwu, Chairman of the AfriSportPro Youth League Nigeria, has announced that 72 under-19 teams comprising over 1,000 players will compete in the nationwide youth football league, set to kick off on August 10.
The AfriSportPro Youth League is designed to revolutionize grassroots football in Nigeria, positioning it as a powerful tool for youth empowerment, national cohesion, and international visibility.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Ugwu described the initiative as both a platform for global opportunity and a catalyst for nation-building through sport.
“The AfriSportPro Youth League was developed with a clear focus: to identify, nurture, and expose grassroots football talent while creating real pathways to both local and international opportunities for youth across Nigeria,” he said.
According to Ugwu, the league is currently running pilot programmes in six states — Osun, FCT, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, and Imo — featuring 72 youth teams and over 1,000 players.
“In Nigeria, talent has never been the problem. The real challenge is opportunity,” he noted. “That’s why we’ve built a league structure that is data-driven, globally visible, and technically sound.”
The league has partnered with Wyscout, the world’s leading football scouting and analytics platform. Every match will be recorded and analyzed with comprehensive performance data made accessible to clubs and scouts around the world.
“This means our players aren’t just playing — they’re being seen, measured, and tracked,” Ugwu added.
Beyond football, the league incorporates youth education, promotion of social values, and crime prevention advocacy. In collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the league will integrate anti-corruption messages and positive values into its nationwide activities.
AfriSportPro has also partnered with the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy to support the Visit Nigeria campaign, leveraging the power of football to promote Nigeria’s talent, culture, and tourism on the global stage.
“We want to tell a new story about Nigeria — one of creativity, energy, and unity,” Ugwu said.
On the league format, Ugwu explained that it will adopt a single round-robin system, with each team playing 11 matches within their respective states.
Each of the six participating states will host a total of 66 matches over 11 weeks, culminating in a one-week national knockout stage — wrapping up the 12-week inaugural season.
“This structure keeps inter-state travel costs low while maintaining competitive integrity and player visibility,” he concluded.
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