Sports Development in Focus As Nasarawa Hosts Naval Peace Cup

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By Sportsgister

The 6th edition of the Annual National Male and Female Youth Football Tournament, popularly known as the Nigeria Chief of Naval Staff Peace Cup, has officially kicked off in Lafia, Nasarawa State, with an exciting opening match at the Lafia City Stadium.

The event began on a solemn note, as a minute of silence was observed in honour of a high-ranking naval officer whose passing was announced shortly before kickoff.

On the pitch, fans were treated to a thrilling seven-goal encounter. Ibrahim Ishaq opened the scoring for the A.A. Sule boys with a well-taken header. However, Nasarawa United Feeders responded swiftly, as Mohammed Iliya and Musa Umar netted quick goals to turn the game around.

Despite a spirited performance that saw Johnson Isaac grab a brace for the Gudi boys, it was George Emmanuel who delivered the decisive late goal, sealing a dramatic 4–3 victory for the Lafia-based Nasarawa United Feeders.

Speaking after the match, the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, represented by the Director of Sports, Mallam Musa Uba, expressed the state’s delight in hosting such a prestigious grassroots tournament. He emphasized that competitions like the Peace Cup are vital for talent discovery and development.

> “The state is blessed with talented grassroots players, and we welcome competitions like this. The level of skill displayed has been remarkable, even surprising spectators who are eager to know where these players are from,” he said.

He further noted that the tournament would help identify players capable of representing Nasarawa State at major events such as the National Sports Festival and the National Youth Games.

Also speaking, Dr. Ahmed Lawal MON, PhD, lauded the Nasarawa State Government for its hospitality and commitment to sports development.

> “We organize over 47 national youth competitions annually across the country. This tournament is one of several ongoing, alongside the Chief of Army Staff competition in Lokoja, the Chief of Air Staff tournament in Enugu, and the Chief of Defence Staff championship in Ibadan,” he stated.

Dr. Lawal explained that due to security concerns in parts of the North, the competition is being hosted in two centres—Lafia and Abuja (Aguiyi Ironsi Cantonment). He added that two teams will qualify from each centre, with the semi-finals and finals scheduled to take place in Lafia.

He also commended the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, describing him as a passionate supporter of sports and a key figure in the success of the tournament.

> “This opening match ranks among the best we’ve witnessed since our organization was established in 1980. The quality of play suggests that many of these players are potential Flying Eagles prospects,” he concluded.

The tournament is expected to gather momentum in the coming days as teams from across the country arrive in Lafia for the continuation of the competition.

Adams Jesse Odoba-Yacham
Director of Communications, NSFA