AfriSportPro Youth League to Kick Off Nationwide August 10 with 72 U-19 Teams

Posted : 29 July 2025

Chukwuebuka Ugwu, Chairman of the AfriSportPro Youth League Nigeria, has announced that 72 under-19 teams featuring over 1,000 players will compete in the nationwide league set to begin on August 10.

Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, Ugwu described the league as a transformative initiative for grassroots football, designed to empower Nigerian youth, foster national unity, and boost the country’s global visibility 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 local and international opportunities for young people across the country,” he said.

Ugwu revealed that the league is currently running in six pilot states—Osun, FCT, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, and Imo—with a total of 72 youth teams and more than 1,000 players already involved.

“We believe that for Nigerian youth, talent is not the problem—but opportunity is,” he stated. “That’s why we’ve created a league structure that is data-driven, globally visible, and technically sound.”

To ensure international exposure, the league has partnered with Wyscout, the world’s leading football scouting and analytics platform. Every match will be recorded and supported by comprehensive data analytics, making it accessible to clubs and scouts globally.

“This means our players aren’t just playing; they’re being seen, measured, and tracked,” Ugwu added.

Beyond football, the league integrates youth education, social values, and crime prevention. In collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), anti-corruption messaging will be promoted throughout the season.

Ugwu also highlighted partnerships with the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy to support the “Visit Nigeria” campaign, using football as a platform to showcase Nigerian talent, culture, and tourism to a global audience.

“We want to project a different narrative of Nigeria—one of creativity, energy, and unity,” he said.

On the format, Ugwu confirmed that each team will play 11 matches in a single round-robin format within their respective state. A total of 66 matches will be played per state over 11 weeks, followed by a one-week national knockout stage, making for a 12-week inaugural season.

“This structure minimizes inter-state travel costs while ensuring fair competition and maximum exposure for players,” he concluded.

AfriSportPro Youth League to Kick Off Nationwide August 10 with 72 U-19 Teams

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