Sports Ministry relaunches Challenge Cup, to revive grassroots football

Kunle Sanni

The federal government says it would revamp the Challenge Cup, through the private and corporate sectors to revive and enhance the sports ecosystem in Nigeria.

The tournament, a prestigious football competition that has captured the nation’s interest since 1945 and remains our most celebrated sporting event.

The Minister of Sports Development, John Owan-Enoh, recently said the MOU was signed with GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited, a leading investment banking firm in Nigeria with expertise in sports management and development, which is already engaged with the NFF and NPFL

Owns-Enoh said the partnership will involve grassroots teams, create employment for approximately 500,000 Nigerians, engage over 100,000,000 football enthusiasts, and showcase our country’s greatness globally.

“On Friday, April 19, 2024, I, as Minister of Sports Development, established significant partnerships with the private and corporate sectors to revive and enhance the sports ecosystem in Nigeria. It is crucial to revamp the Challenge Cup, a prestigious football competition that has captured the nation’s interest since 1945 and remains our most celebrated sporting event.

“I am pleased to announce that on April 19, 2024, an MOU was signed with GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited, a leading investment banking firm in Nigeria with expertise in sports management and development, which is already engaged with the NFF and NPFL. We are confident of their suitability for this partnership based on their track record.

He said through the partnership, the ministry aims to relaunch the Challenge Cup as the President Federation Cup in collaboration with the NFF to reignite interest amongst fans and elevate it to global standards.

“Through this partnership, we aim to relaunch the Challenge Cup as the President Federation Cup in collaboration with the NFF to reignite interest amongst fans and elevate it to global standards. The renamed competition will involve grassroots teams, create employment for approximately 500,000 Nigerians, engage over 100,000,000 football enthusiasts, and showcase our country’s greatness globally. The President Federation Cup will become President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s legacy championing Nigerian football.

“Our groundbreaking agreements with key private sector players like GTI are indications of our resolve to revolutionize sports in Nigeria, leveraging innovation, technology, and human expertise. I would like to thank Mrs Tinuke Watti, the Permanent Secretary of the Sports Ministry, Mr Musa Gusau, President of the NFF, and Mr Abubakar Lawal and all members of the GTI team for their invaluable contributions.

“May the President Federation Cup excel exceedingly for the good of Nigeria and Nigerians.”