Officials of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will arrive in Nigeria on Monday to inspect facilities proposed to host the Final Phase of this year’s CAF African Schools Football Championship.

The inspection team will assess competition and ancillary venues in Ikenne-Remo and Sagamu, Ogun State, as Nigeria bids to stage the continental youth tournament, which is designed to promote grassroots football development and education across Africa.

Launched four years ago, the CAF African Schools Football Championship is an annual Under-15 competition for both boys and girls. The tournament is backed by a $10 million investment from the Foundation owned by CAF President Patrice Motsepe, and features zonal qualifiers culminating in a continental finals event.

The 2024 finals were held in Accra, Ghana, where Tanzania won the boys’ category and hosts Ghana claimed the girls’ title. Winning schools receive up to $300,000 in infrastructural development support. The championship is also run in partnership with global bodies including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), with a strong focus on health and education awareness.

CAF officials scheduled for the inspection include Omar Amr (Safeguarding), Fatima Elmissaoui (ASFC Officer), Herve Dassoundo (Marketing and Branding), Mahmoud Amer (Travel and Logistics), Diabate Zakarhiya (Safety and Security), Hend Thabet (Travel and Accommodation), Joshua Knipp (ASFC Competition), as well as Philippe Tchere, Executive Director of WAFU B.

The inspection will take place on Tuesday, February 3, and Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Key facilities to be evaluated include the Remo Stars Stadium and training pitches in Ikenne-Remo, the FC Ebedei Stadium and training pitches in Sagamu, alongside hospitals and hotel accommodation within the two host towns.

Nigeria’s readiness to meet CAF’s technical, logistical, safety, and welfare requirements will determine its chances of hosting the prestigious youth championship finals later this year.

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Shooting Stars Sports Club have acknowledged the directive by the Nigeria Premier Football League to relocate matches from the Lekan Salami Stadium, insisting that concrete steps are already underway to restore the playing surface to acceptable standards.

The NPFL had earlier ordered that, with effect from the next matchday, no league fixtures should be staged at the Ibadan venue following growing concerns over the deteriorating condition of the pitch. Consequently, Shooting Stars Sports Club will now play their home matches at the MKO Abiola Arena until urgent remedial works are completed.

NPFL Chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, who also serves as a Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, confirmed the decision, stressing that player safety, match quality, and the integrity of the league could not be compromised.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Shooting Stars said they had received official communication from the league regarding the suitability of the Lekan Salami Stadium to host NPFL fixtures, particularly in the context of broadcast and television requirements.

The club assured supporters and stakeholders that the issue was being treated with “utmost seriousness,” revealing that deliberate measures had already been implemented to improve the turf. According to the statement, intensified pitch maintenance, grass treatment, levelling, and regular watering have been ongoing in recent weeks.

Shooting Stars further explained that the current dry season and harsh weather conditions had significantly affected the playing surface, describing it as a broader environmental challenge that the club has been actively managing.

“Despite these conditions, work on the pitch has been ongoing to ensure steady improvement and long-term sustainability,” the club said, reaffirming its commitment to providing a safe, professional, and broadcast-friendly playing environment befitting its status and history in Nigerian football.

The venue reshuffle has also affected other NPFL clubs. Remo Stars, who were earlier sanctioned to play away from their Ikenne base and temporarily relocated to Ibadan, will now host their home matches in Akure. Ironically, Remo Stars had earlier hosted Sunshine Stars in Ikenne, before the latest reversal forced them to seek refuge in the Ondo State capital.

Shooting Stars stated that they would continue to engage constructively with the NPFL while prioritising lasting solutions that would allow supporters to return to the Lekan Salami Stadium under acceptable conditions.

The club also appealed for patience and understanding from the Oluyole faithful, assuring them of its determination to resolve the matter and restore Ibadan as a credible and safe home venue for NPFL football.

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• Summary

• *Arsenal’s first win in four Premier League games boosts title hopes
• *Arteta praises team’s dominance, resilience and quality
• *Saka’s absence was filled by Madueke, who was heavily involved in Arsenal’s victory

Premier League leaders Arsenal ended their mini-slump with an emphatic 4-0 victory at Leeds United on Saturday to move seven points clear despite Bukayo Saka being ruled out through injury just before kickoff.

Martin Zubimendi’s header and an own goal by Leeds keeper Karl Darlow put Arsenal in command before halftime, and Viktor Gyokeres’s volley and a clever finish by Gabriel Jesus wrapped things up after the break.

Arsenal’s first victory in four Premier League games moved Mikel Arteta’s side to 53 points from 24 matches, with Manchester City and Aston Villa, who both play on Sunday, on 46.

“To win 4-0 here is very difficult, let’s see when the next time that happens. Big credit to the boys,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who withstood a second-half soaking as the rain hammered down at Elland Road, said.

“The team showed a real dominance, resilience, character and obviously quality. I really liked the attitude of the team.”

Bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers slipped closer to the drop as they lost 2-0 at home to Bournemouth, a result that left them 17 points behind Nottingham Forest, who occupy the spot immediately above the relegation zone.

Everton moved up to eighth after Beto’s goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time earned them a 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Saka’s withdrawal with a hip niggle did not bode well for Arsenal, whose loss at home to Manchester United last week, following consecutive 0-0 draws, had raised questions about their nerve as they seek their first title since 2004.

With Leeds having lost only once in their last 10 league games, it looked like being a real test of Arsenal’s mettle.

They passed it in style, however, as the depth of their squad was again apparent with Saka’s replacement Noni Madueke making a huge impact. It was his cross that Zubimendi met to put Arsenal in front after 27 minutes, and his corner, which was fumbled into his own goal by Darlow.

The raucous Elland Road crowd tried to lift their side, but there was no way back after substitute Gabriel Martinelli did brilliantly down the right and whipped in a low cross that Gyokeres met with a volley past Darlow.

Martinelli’s fellow Brazilian Jesus, also off the bench, then showed sparkling footwork before curling in a clinical finish in the 86th minute.

Fifth-placed Chelsea host third-bottom West Ham United later on Saturday and champions Liverpool entertain Newcastle United to complete the day’s action.

-Reuters

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