The 3rd edition of the Youth Sports Federation-organised Hajia Dr. Aisha Bala Mohammed National U-15 Boys Soccer Tournament comes to a thrilling end on Sunday, with Kaduna taking on Katsina in the final at the Main-Bowl of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi.

To reach this stage of the competition, which kicked off on Sunday, January 19, both teams proved rampant in front of goal, with Katsina trouncing Bauchi State 5-1, while Kaduna thrashed Yobe 4-1 in the first and second semi-finals, respectively, at the same venue on Friday.

Kaduna enjoyed a laudable goal run, reaching the final after having edged Ondo State 4-3 at the quarter-final, while Katsina mustered a 1-0 win over Borno State.

The final will be preceded by a third-place match between Yobe and Bauchi at the same venue on Sunday.

Named after the wife of the Governor of Bauchi State, Hajia Dr. Aisha Bala Mohammed (Sarauniyar Bauchi), the tournament drew young football talent from across Nigeria, featuring 15 states and the FCT, namely, Bauchi, Kaduna, Kebbi, Ondo, FCT Abuja, Gombe, Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Borno, Ekiti, Adamawa, Niger, Plateau, and Jigawa.

The tournament aims to promote youth development and foster sportsmanship among the nation’s young footballers, providing them with a platform to showcase their talents.

With such broad representation, the tournament is a key milestone in identifying and nurturing future football stars of Nigerian football.

An initiative of Dr. Aisha Bala Mohammed, the annual event has grown in prominence, attracting attention from both local and national football authorities.

It provides a unique opportunity for young players to be recognised by scouts and coaches at the highest levels.

This is underscored by the Niferia Football Federation (NFF) Technical Department deploying coach Haruna Ibrahim to the week-long event to observe and identify standout players for the various age-grade national teams.

His presence underscores the NFF’s commitment to nurturing young footballers and further developing Nigeria’s footballing future at the grassroots level.

Ibrahim’s role at the prestigious event reflects the NFF’s ongoing efforts to strengthen youth football development and ensure that top-tier talent is discovered and nurtured from an early age. His observations and recommendations could play a crucial role in shaping the future of Nigerian football.