By Aga Samuel Imoter, Jalingo

Organisers of the Jalingo Champions League have called for increased government investment in grassroots sports development, describing sports as a strategic vehicle for youth empowerment, talent discovery, crime prevention and socio-economic development.The appeal was made during the group stage of the ongoing Jalingo Champions League at the Jolly Nyame Stadium in Jalingo, Taraba State.

Speaking with journalists, the Ambassador of the Jalingo Champions League and Youth Development, Dr. Daniel Buba, said the competition was established to provide a constructive platform for young people to develop their talents while steering them away from crime, violence, drug abuse and other social vices.

He noted that sustained investment in grassroots sports would not only nurture future professional athletes but also create employment opportunities, promote entrepreneurship and contribute meaningfully to the state’s economic growth. Dr. Buba commended Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, for establishing the Taraba State Sports Commission, describing the initiative as a significant milestone in the administration’s efforts to reposition sports as a catalyst for youth development.

He, however, urged the state government to deepen its commitment by providing sustained financial and institutional support for grassroots sporting competitions across football and other disciplines, stressing that sports development should not be left solely in the hands of private individuals and organisations.

According to him, stronger collaboration between the government and private sector would strengthen talent identification programmes, expand opportunities for young athletes and position Taraba as a leading centre for sports development in Nigeria.

He also urged participating teams to uphold the principles of discipline, teamwork, respect and fair play, adding that the values cultivated through sports should translate into peaceful coexistence and responsible citizenship within their communities.

Also speaking, the organiser of the tournament, Mr. Jacob, described the Jalingo Champions League as a talent development initiative designed to identify promising footballers and provide young people with a productive alternative to street life and other negative influences.

He said the competition had continued to serve as a platform for aspiring footballers to showcase their abilities before scouts and football stakeholders, expressing optimism that players discovered through the tournament would eventually progress to professional clubs both within and outside Nigeria. “My greatest ambition is to see players from this competition earn professional contracts and compete on the international stage,” he said.

Mr. Jacob observed that while private initiatives have sustained grassroots football development in the state, greater government support is essential to unlock the enormous potential of young athletes. He called on the Taraba State Government to revive Taraba United Football Club and restore the state’s presence in Nigeria’s professional football league, noting that a functional state-owned club would provide a clear pathway for local talents to transition into professional football while bringing league matches back to Taraba.

According to him, the prolonged inactivity of Taraba United has deprived many talented youths of opportunities to showcase their abilities at the highest domestic level.He disclosed that the organisers are actively pursuing partnerships with reputable football academies, clubs and talent scouts to facilitate the progression of outstanding players from the tournament into professional football.

Recalling the previous edition of the competition, he revealed that one of the tournament’s standout players secured an opportunity with the Samson Siasia Academy but was unable to complete the process after being disqualified under circumstances beyond the organisers’ control.

He appealed to government agencies, corporate organisations, football administrators and development partners to support the Jalingo Champions League through sponsorship, talent development programmes and scouting initiatives, expressing confidence that sustained investment in grassroots football would produce players capable of excelling in domestic leagues and representing Nigeria on the international stage.

By Abigail David

FIFA has announced that the winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will receive championship rings for the first time in the tournament’s history, alongside the World Cup trophy and gold medals.

The world football governing body unveiled the initiative on Thursday ahead of Sunday’s final between Spain and Argentina at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

According to FIFA, the introduction of championship rings brings a tradition commonly associated with American sports to the FIFA World Cup.

In a statement, FIFA said a limited edition of 2,026 individually numbered rings would be produced to commemorate the tournament.

Thirty rings will be presented to members of the World Cup-winning team, while the remaining 1,996 will be offered to fans worldwide as officially licensed memorabilia.

FIFA said each ring will feature the FIFA World Cup trophy on one side, while the other side will be customised to reflect the identity of the championship-winning team. The rings will also be individually numbered, custom-fitted and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

The governing body added that the winning team’s captain and head coach will receive temporary rings immediately after the final, with the customised versions to be presented at a later date.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will see Spain and Argentina compete for the title on Sunday.

By Abigail David

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have been drawn in Group B alongside Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo for the 2026 WAFU B U20 Championship, the qualifying tournament for the 2027 Africa U20 Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The draw, held on Wednesday, also placed hosts and defending champions Côte d’Ivoire in Group A with Niger and Benin Republic.

The Group B fixtures will see Nigeria renew its long-standing youth football rivalry with Ghana’s Black Satellites, while Burkina Faso and Togo complete the group.

The WAFU B Championship serves as the qualification tournament for the 2027 U20 AFCON, which will be hosted by Ghana. The continental competition will feature 12 teams, with the four semi-finalists earning places at the FIFA U20 World Cup.

Nigeria enters the tournament with a strong record in the regional competition. The Flying Eagles won the WAFU B title in 2022 and successfully defended it in 2024, defeating Ghana 2-1 in the final played in Lomé.

The team also reached the final of the inaugural edition in 2018 and finished runners-up at the most recent tournament after a 1-0 defeat to hosts Côte d’Ivoire.

The Flying Eagles will begin preparations for the championship as they seek another regional title and qualification for the 2027 U20 AFCON.