More than 1,000 young footballers across Nigeria will compete in the inaugural AfriSportPro Youth League, which kicks off on August 10, according to Chukwuebuka Ugwu, Chairman of the AfriSportPro Youth League Nigeria.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Ugwu announced that 72 under-19 teams from six pilot states—Osun, FCT, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, and Imo—will participate in the grassroots competition designed to empower Nigerian youth through football.
“The AfriSportPro Youth League was created to identify, nurture, and expose local football talent to both national and international opportunities,” Ugwu said. “We believe Nigerian youth have the talent. What they lack is opportunity.”
The league will adopt a single round-robin format, with each team playing 11 matches within its state. This will result in 66 matches per state over 11 weeks, followed by a one-week national knockout stage, concluding the 12-week season.
Ugwu emphasized the league’s data-driven and globally connected structure, powered by a partnership with Wyscout, a leading football analytics platform. This ensures every match is recorded, analyzed, and accessible to scouts and clubs worldwide.
“Players are not just participating—they are being seen, evaluated, and tracked using global standards,” he noted.
Beyond football, the league integrates youth development, education, and social campaigns. In collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the initiative will also promote anti-corruption messages and positive values.
Additionally, Ugwu revealed a partnership with the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy to support the “Visit Nigeria” campaign, using football as a tool to spotlight Nigeria’s talent, unity, and cultural richness.
“We aim to reshape the global narrative of Nigeria through football—projecting creativity, energy, and national pride,” he added.
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