Kano to host 2026 Renewed Hope cup

Kano State is set to host the 2026 President Bola Tinubu Renewed Hope Cup in September, with football teams from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory expected to compete in the two-week tournament.

The competition, tagged “The Game Changer”, is being organised in partnership with the Nigeria Football Federation as part of efforts to promote youth development, grassroots football, peace and social integration across Northern Nigeria.

The Special Adviser to the Kano State Governor on Sports and Youth Development, Sani Musa-Danja, disclosed this on Monday while addressing journalists on preparations for the tournament.

Danja said the competition would provide a platform for young people to engage in productive activities while using football to discourage social vices and promote peaceful coexistence.

“We are engaging the youths in productive activities to promote peace and disabuse their minds from engaging in social vices and activities that can harm the state or the country at large,” he said.

He described the tournament as a significant youth development initiative, stressing that bringing young people from the 19 northern states and the FCT together would promote unity and strengthen relationships among communities.

“We want to bring the youths of the 19 northern states together through this special football tournament, the Game Changer Tournament, which is backed by Governor Abba Yusuf,” Danja said.

The governor’s aide said Yusuf agreed to host and support the competition because of his administration’s commitment to youth development, grassroots sports and the promotion of peace across the state.

According to him, the tournament would also expose young footballers to opportunities to showcase their talents before scouts, football academies and other development programmes.

“The tournament is not only about winning trophies. It is also about discovering talents and giving young footballers the opportunity to demonstrate what they can do before scouts and football development programmes,” he said.

Danja added that the participation of teams from across the North would make the competition an avenue for young people from different communities to interact, build friendships and develop a stronger sense of regional unity.

Also speaking, the Technical Director of the tournament, Abdulgafar Oladimeji, said the organisers were interested in developing the players and other personnel involved in grassroots football beyond the competition itself.

“This competition is designed to go beyond the football matches. We want to build the capacity of players, coaches and other personnel involved in grassroots football,” Oladimeji said.

He said the tournament would create opportunities for scouting emerging talents while contributing to peace, social interaction and economic activities in Kano.

“Through this tournament, we are creating a platform where fresh talents can be identified, while also using football to promote peace and social interaction among young people across the region,” he said.

Oladimeji added that the competition was also designed to project the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda in line with its sports development policy.

The tournament will begin with a group-stage format before progressing to the knockout rounds, with the final scheduled to be played at the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium in Kano.

The organisers said the winners would receive N10m, while the second- and third-placed teams would receive N5m and N2m, respectively.

Oladimeji said the prize money was intended to reward excellence and encourage young people to pursue productive careers through sports.

“The prizes are meant to reward excellence, encourage productivity among the youths and strengthen the relationships that this tournament seeks to build among communities,” he said.

The two-week competition is expected to bring together players, coaches, officials and supporters from the 19 northern states and the FCT, with Kano serving as the host city.

The organisers said the tournament would use football as a vehicle for youth engagement, talent development and peaceful coexistence, while providing young players with opportunities to advance their careers.

With Kano hosting the competition, the tournament is also expected to further strengthen the state’s position as a centre for grassroots sports development and youth engagement in Northern Nigeria.