By Rasaq Oboirien
Ten players have been chosen to represent Team Nigeria at the FC Bayern World Youth Cup later this year, following the tournament’s conclusion featuring 12 teams.
Ablaze Football Academy of Ikorodu emerged as champions in the 7th edition of the FC Bayern Youth Cup Nigeria, defeating Inspire Sports Academy of Lagos in an exhilarating final held at Inspire Pitch, Cappa-Oshodi, Lagos State.
Both teams delivered outstanding performances throughout the tournament, reaching the finals after strong showings in their respective groups. The match ended in a 0-0 draw at full time, and Ablaze secured victory 4-3 on penalties.
Victor Obinnah Edeh, Tournament Director of FC Bayern Youth Cup Nigeria, emphasised the fairness and integrity of the selection process used to identify the most talented young footballers for this esteemed competition.
“We host a tournament in Lagos that typically features 20 teams, equating to 200 to 300 players. We then expand to cities like Jos, Kano, Kaduna, Kogi, Enugu, and others,” Edeh explained.
“Each regional event allows us to condense hundreds of talents down to just 10 who represent their respective states. By the time we reach the national finals, the top 100 to 120 players have already been rigorously tested and proven capable. They are champions at their level.”
The twelve teams that participated in the tournament included Ablaze FA, Inspire SA, Shuffle FA, Select FA, Alpha FA, Beta FA, Dan Alkali FA, FC Bako, Rangers International, Femi Gbaja FA, TFA Squad, and Utmost FA.