The Arewa Consultative Forum Unity Football Tournament kicked off in the North Central region of Nigeria, as Kogi State U-17 defeated Nasarawa State 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw to advanced to the semis, at the Lafia City Stadium in Nasarawa State.
Declaring the match open, Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Youth and Sport Development, Dr lbrahim Adamu Alhassan, commended the organisers for the initiative, assuring them that the State Government would give them the needed support.
Meanwhile, Coordinator of the Arewa Consultative Forum Football Tournament, Dr Sadiq Fakai, emphasised that the tournament is geared towards promoting Unity, Peace and Youth Empowerment through sports and to celebrate 25 years Anniversary of the Forum.
“This is a very good opportunity for you” Fakai said. “So I encourage you to take this sport seriously. We are in Nasarawa State and it’s hosted on behalf of the North Central. This is a unity football tournament.”
“It’s not a do or die affair, everybody is a winner at the end of the day. The most important thing is for us to come together, agree to work together and feel that we are brothers, we are together.”
He further appreciated the Nasarawa State Government for hosting the competition for the North Central Region in Lafia, the state capital.
“I would really like to appreciate the whole state for accommodating and hosting us,” he added.
Voice of Nigeria reports that 7 States in the North Central Zone would participate in the competition.