Bauchi wins Zonal ACF football competition, to represent North-East at finals

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By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi

Bauchi State football team has emerged winners of the North-East 2025 Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Unity football tournament.

Bauchi, which hosted the tournament, emerged victorious at the final following a 3-1 victory on penalties against neighboring Gombe state, after regulation time had ended 1-1 between the two sister States.

The unity football tournament was part of activities line up for the commemoration of the upcoming 25 years anniversary celebrations of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).

Speaking to sports journalists at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Memorial Stadium Bauchi, venue of the tournament, Chairman of the competition, Dr Abubakar Sadiq Saadu Fakai, congratulated the winners of the North-East edition and thanked Bauchi state Government for hosting the event.

Fakai explained that winners from each zone will converge in Kaduna to play among themselves to decide the overall champion of the unity football tournament of the ACF.

He added that during the 25 anniversary celebrations, ACF will unvail an endowment fund of one N100 billion that will be used to help ease hardships amongst teaming youths across the 19 northern states.

Also speaking, Bauchi State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Alhaji Adamu Babayo Gabarin, commended organisers of the tournament for choosing Bauchi to host the three day event.

The Commissioner expressed hope that the state will emerge overall winner in Kaduna.

Gabarin said Bauchi state under the administration of Governor Bala Muhammad will continue to host zonal and national events, for the the development of sporting activities in the state.

The theme for the unity football tournament 2025 is “Promoting unity, peace and youths empowerment through sports”, all the Six States that make up the North-East subregion, participated in the tournament.