One of the most prestigious football fiesta in North-central Nigeria, the Igala Nation Cup in the eastern senatorial zone of Kogi state will commence on August 10.
A statement released by the Technical Director of the annual soccer tournament, Coach Abubakar Kamar Olachene, said fourteen clubs have been successfully screened for the football competition.
The proprietor of the popular Kamar Football Academy Idah said this year’s tournament promises to be exciting and competitive as it has been expanded to accommodate some of the top notable football clubs in Igala land.
According to the Idah-born tactician, a whole lot of mouth watering prizes and awards awaits the top notch talents that will mesmerize and dazzle soccer enthusiasts at this year’s fiesta.
Highlights of the final will be the award of the maiden edition of the best footballer in Igala land tagged “Igala Nation Ballon D’Or 2021” at a football award ceremony billed for Idah, the ancient seat of the Igala Kingdom, on the 24th of December 2021.
To give the competition adequate coverage and acceptability, the organisers have taken the preliminary rounds of matches to Idah, Ankpa and Dekina. This was done to enable soccer lovers in these areas get the opportunity to watch some of the future big names in the areas dazzle them with football artistry and skills.
The opening games of this year’s edition will kick off on the 10th of August 2021 in the three axis. At the Ankpa township stadium, a rejuvenated Ankpa United FC will open their Igala Nations Cup account against one of last year’s debutants, Okpo United FC at 3pm, while B2k Academy will take on Adusuf FC at the popular Qua-Iboe Primary School field in Idah same time.
All Stars FC and Bassa United will lighten the Dekina axis at Agala Ate, Anyigba same day.
Interestingly, the Igala Nations cup has since inception produced some handful of promising stars who early this year started the Igala United Football Club that came second in the Nationwide League One division 3 play off in Akure, Ondo state with some of the discovered prospects drawing attention from some notable clubs both in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and the Nigeria National League (NNL).
