Tinubu U-18 Football Tournament Kicks Off In Katsina As Bauchi Triumphs In Opener
By SANI BATURE
THE second edition of the President Bola Tinubu Under-18 Boys Football Tournament has officially kicked off at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina, with the opening match seeing Bauchi State defeat hosts Katsina 2–0.
Governor Dikko Umar Radda, represented by the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Aliyu Lawal-Zakari, declared the tournament open on Monday. He described it as an important platform for discovering young football talent, promoting sportsmanship, and strengthening unity among states.
“Katsina is a home of hospitality and will continue to support grassroots football development to complement the Federal Government’s youth empowerment agenda,” the governor said.
The National President of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), Dr. Nasiru Gawuna, represented by Aminu Ahmed-Wali, Vice President (North-West), commended the Katsina State Government for its commitment to youth sports development.
He assured participants of fair officiating and equal opportunities throughout the competition, noting that about 15 states—including Ondo, Kaduna, Kwara, Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kebbi, Gombe, Sokoto, Yobe, Niger, Kogi, the FCT, and host Katsina—had arrived for the tournament.
The event, which aims to nurture future football stars, continues through the week with more group-stage matches scheduled at venues across Katsina.
