By Aderonke Ojo
Kwara Football Academy (KFA) will represent Nigeria at the 2026 NextGen Africa Cup, scheduled to take place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire from March 22 to March 29, 2026.
The prestigious youth tournament will feature eight elite football academies from across Africa, providing a competitive platform for emerging talents to showcase their abilities on an international stage.
According to information released by the tournament organizers, the teams will be divided into two groups of four. Kwara Football Academy has been drawn in Group A, where they will face Terenga Sporting Club of Senegal, Africa Foot of Bamako (Mali), and FC Olympic Sports of Côte d’Ivoire.
Group B comprises Right to Dream Academy of Ghana, Racing Club Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Sosso FA of Guinea, and Umbro Rising Stars of Côte d’Ivoire.
All matches in the tournament will be played at the Stade Robert Champroux in Abidjan, one of Côte d’Ivoire’s notable football venues.
The NextGen Africa Cup is designed as a high-level youth development competition aimed at exposing young African players to international opportunities. The tournament will also attract top football scouts and talent recruiters from several European clubs, creating a pathway for outstanding players to secure professional opportunities abroad.
Sportswear brand Umbro is the official partner of the tournament, supporting the competition as it brings together some of the continent’s most promising young football talents.
For Kwara Football Academy, participation in the tournament represents another major step in its commitment to elite player development and international exposure. The Ilorin-based academy has built a strong reputation for nurturing young talents and providing them with platforms to compete at the highest levels.
A 25-man contigent of the Academy is expected to arrive in Abidjan before the commencement of the tournament
