No fewer than 13 universities in Africa are expected to participate in the first edition of African Students Football Union(AFSU) championship scheduled to hold in Nigeria.
Prof. Oluwaseun Omotayo, AFSU President made the disclosure on Thursday in Ibadan during the inspection of facilities to ascertain the level of preparedness for the championship.
The championship would be held at different centres located in Ibadan, Ijebu-Ode and Lagos.
Omotayo said that 13 universities from Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Liberia and some others from West Africa to participate in the championship.
“Nigeria, being the host country has close to six of seven universities participating in the championship scheduled to commence on January 19 in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
“We have three centres for the championship in Nigeria located in Ibadan, Ijebu-Ode and Lagos. The group stages of the championship will take place in Ibadan and Ijebu-Ode, while the third place, semi-final and final holds in Lagos,” he said.
He said that students of participating universities would have the opportunity of attending the first world students football league scheduled to take place in Russia.
The AFSU president said that the students would also have enhanced opportunity of pursuing football as a professional career.
“This is because the International Football Union has affiliation with majority of the professional sides in Europe who will be attending the championship.
“With that some of the students will have the opportunity of going into football career as addition to their skills in various trade such as medicine, law and so on,” he said.
Omotayo said that Lagos and Ogun states have been very supportive, describing Oyo as very exemplary.
NAN reports that the opening ceremony scheduled to hold in Ibadan on Saturday, January 19 would have the University of Ibadan(UI) football team host its Ahmadu Bello University(ABU), Zaria counterpart
