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By Eche Amos, Lafia
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, on Friday, 14th November, 2025, performed the ceremonial kick-off which heralded the official commencement of the North Central Zonal maiden edition of the Arewa Consultative Forum U-17 Unity Grassroots Football Tournament holding in Lafia, the State Capital.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Dr. Ibrahim Adamu Alhassan, the Governor commended organizers of the tournament for deploying the power of sport to build bridges of unity and peaceful co-existence among people of diverse nationalities, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
“On behalf of my Principal, the Honourable Commissioner of the State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, and the leader of our State, Governor Abdullahi Sule, I heartily welcome you all to Nasarawa State.
“No better place to host this tournament than here in Nasarawa State because we have the most sports-loving Governor and Deputy Governor in Nigeria here.
“You know why you are here. Ensure that you imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship as we all expect to see everyone as a winner at the end of the tournament, using the platform as a factor of unity and peaceful co-existence”, Dr. Ibrahim remarked.
Coordinator of the programme, Hon. Sadiq Abubakar Sa’adu(Fakai), the tournament is part of activities to mark the silver jubilee celebration of the Arewa Consultative Forum, a long-standing, non-partisan forum that unites leaders and youth from Northern Nigeria to safeguard the region’s interests, promote peace and drive socio-economic progress.
He noted that the competition is aimed at unearthing and nurturing hidden football potentials across Northern Nigeria, foster unity and development in the region for greater achievements.
Sadiq added that the tournament is split into three zones that make up the Northern Region, with winners already produced in the North-West and North-northEast Zones, while the North-Central Zonal winners will join the other two Zonal winners, Kebbi and Bauchi States, later in Kaduna State to produce the eventual overall champions of the tournament, during the ACF’s 25th anniversary grand ceremony between 20th and 22nd November, 2025, in Kaduna State, where a One Hundred Million Naira Endowment Fund will be raised to support the football development initiative.
He appreciated Governor Abdullahi Sule for granting the Forum opportunity to hold the tournament in Nasarawa State, while also extending the appreciation of the Forum to the State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Adamu Alhassan, and other key stakeholders for providing them with the enabling environment to carry out the task.
In the first game, hosts, Nasarawa State, lost 2-4 on penalty shootout to Kogi State after regulation time had ended 1-1 apiece, advancing Kogi State to the Semi-Finals’ stage.
In the other games, Plateau State advanced to the last four following a 5-4 penalty shootout victory over hard-fighting Team Benue State, after both sides played out a 3-3 draw in regular time.
Team Niger State came from behind to beat Team Kwara State by 4-3, to guarantee qualification to the Semi-Finals.
In the last match of the day, Team Nasarawa overturned the disappointment of their first game, securing qualification for the Semi-Final stage after beating Team FCT Abuja 5-3 via spot kicks, after a 2-2 play-off draw, decided at the Sports Complex of the Federal University of Lafia.
In the Semi-Finals’ pairings on Saturday, 15th November, 2025, Team Nasarawa State will file out against Team Niger State at the Lafia City Stadium by 8.30am, while Team Plateau will slug it out versus Team Kogi State in the other Semi-Final clash at the Federal University of Lafia Sports Complex by 10am, same day.
The grand finale of the three-day tournament holds on Sunday, 16th November, 2025, by 10am at the Lafia City Stadium.
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