Inspectors from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have completed a comprehensive assessment of Nigeria’s proposed venues for the Final Phase of the 2025/26 CAF African Schools Football Championship, praising the facilities in Remo as outstanding and a new standard for the sub-region.

The seven-member CAF delegation wrapped up a two-day inspection on Wednesday, visiting key locations including the Remo Stars Sports Institute, FC Ebedei Stadium, Babcock University Teaching Hospital and the Babcock University Guest House.

The exercise forms part of CAF’s selection process ahead of the continental youth tournament scheduled for April.

Led by CAF safeguarding official Omar Amr, the team evaluated sporting infrastructure, medical services, accommodation, logistics and security arrangements across the proposed host sites. Officials from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), along with representatives of the host institutions, accompanied the delegation throughout the visit.

According to the NFF, the inspectors expressed strong approval of the facilities and their overall readiness to stage the prestigious tournament.

“The inspectors minced no words in stating how impressed they were with the facilities, with a member telling the President of Remo Stars FC and proprietor of the Institute, Hon. Kunle Soname that the facility remains the best he has ever seen in the whole of West Africa,” the NFF said.

Amr also briefed NFF officials and the management of the Remo Stars Sports Institute on the scale of the upcoming finals, confirming that 24 teams are expected to compete.

The tournament will feature eight boys’ teams and eight girls’ teams from across Africa, as well as eight invited teams from another FIFA confederation, making it the largest final phase since the competition was launched in 2022.

The CAF African Schools Football Championship is an annual U-15 tournament created to nurture young football talent while encouraging education across the continent. It is supported by a $10 million investment from the foundation of CAF president Patrice Motsepe and runs through zonal qualifiers leading to a continental grand finale.

Members of the inspection team included CAF officials Fatima Elmissaoui, Herve Dassoundo, Mahmoud Amer, Diabate Zakarhiya and Hend Thabet, alongside WAFU B executive director Philippe Tchere.

They were received by NFF officials led by Ademola Olajire and Abdulrafiu Yusuf, as well as representatives from Beyond Limits Football Academy.

The previous edition of the finals took place in Accra, where Tanzania’s boys’ team and Ghana’s girls’ team claimed the titles.

Winners of the championship receive up to $300,000 in infrastructural development support, while the programme also partners with organisations such as the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organisation to promote health awareness and education among young participants.