School football tourney: Organisers dangle university scholarships, monetary rewards at winners

From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

Organisers of the Nigerian American Football Association (NAFA) tournament have rolled out mouth-watering rewards for the winners of the Nigerian Secondary School Flag Football League (NSSFFL).

They made the disclosure during the press conference to flag off the Aketi Bowl III national finals, describing it as a renewed commitment to strengthening opportunities for young Nigerians through school sports.

NAFA Vice President, Oluwaseye Obatolu, said that this year’s edition will feature a strengthened focus on technical capacity, including certified officiating crews, upgraded game operations, and improved athlete-welfare protocols.

He further noted that the expansion reflects the inclusiveness of flag football, which he called “an affordable gateway to teamwork, discipline, and leadership.”

The League Coordinator, Oluwatobi Abe, who announced enhanced incentives for this year’s winners, offered university scholarships for all champions at partner institutions and cash prizes of ₦1,000,000 for first-place winners (male and female); ₦750,000 for first runners-up; and ₦350,000 for third place.

Abe urged student-athletes to “play hard, play fair, and be coachable,” emphasising that the lessons learnt through sport echo far beyond the field.

He said: “One thing I must highlight is that this tournament continues to serve as a bridge. For many of these young players, this week is not just a final, it is a doorway.

“A doorway into collegiate opportunities, exposure, and a growing national pipeline that ensures they do not ‘age out’ of the sport after secondary school.

“That continuity is crucial and it is one of the reasons we are committed to strengthening every layer of the flexible pathway in Nigeria,” he said.

For his part, Obatolu described the tournament as “a data-driven, partnership-powered success story” that has grown from an experimental idea into one of the country’s fastest-expanding school sports ecosystems.

The championship is named in honour of NAFA’s founding chairman, the late Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON, whose vision, Obatolu noted, “championed structures that outlive seasons, individuals, and moments.”

He said: “This tournament stands as one of the many living testaments to that legacy: a reminder that our mandate is not only to host a winning finals week, but to uphold a winning system that endures across generations.

“What is new and what to expect this week: with 11 states competing at the preliminaries and 7 states successfully meeting the qualification benchmark, this year’s finals will feature a truly elite field.

“Each of these qualifying states is presenting both male and female teams—raising the competitive bar and showcasing the depth of talent being developed nationwide through the Nigeria School Sports Federation and NAFA’s grassroots pipeline.

“A tighter, more competitive finals bracket—reflecting deeper talent pools across participating states and schools. Continued emphasis on capacity building—certified officiating crews, structured game operations, and improved athlete-welfare protocols to ensure a safer and more professional experience for everyone.”