The 2025 Benue State Football Association (BSFA) Margaret Icheen State Football League officially kicked off on Sunday at the Benue State University Sports Complex in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
In his opening speech, the Chairman of BSFA, Dr. Paul Edeh, explained that the tournament is in its second edition and is taking place across the three senatorial zones, featuring 40 participating teams. “I believe we will harvest talents that will represent Benue at any given competition,” he stated.
He noted that he decided to name the tournament the Margaret Icheen State League to honour and respect this committed football administrator. The chairman highlighted that since its inception, the tournament has continued to serve as a vital platform for unearthing and nurturing young talents.
Dr. Edeh remarked on the tournament’s growth and the increase in team participation, indicating that the number of registered teams demonstrates a meaningful expansion.
He announced attractive prize money for the top three positions: the winner will receive ₦500,000, the runner-up ₦300,000, and the third-placed team ₦200,000. Additionally, the last eight teams will receive new sets of jerseys and five balls, while four coaches will be awarded scholarships to study at the Nigeria Institute of Sports (NIS) in Abuja.
Chief Margaret Icheen, in her speech, expressed her gratitude to the BSFA chairman for naming the league after her. She emphasised the tournament’s potential to identify grassroots talent and expressed her determination to see more teams from Benue competing at the premier level.
In a remark, Philip Nongu, Chairman of Lobi Stars FC and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, Youth Development, and Creativity, urged participating teams to strive for excellence and wished them a successful tournament.
The league is expected to showcase emerging talents and potentially yield teams that will represent Benue on a national scale. Meanwhile, the opening match, featuring Unity Football Club and Solash Football Club, ended 6-1 in favour of Unity FC.
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