The maiden edition of the Confino Lounge and Guesthouse Football Tournament has ended in Abuja, with the organisers describing it as a platform to showcase youth talents, foster leadership and promote peace.
The six-week competition, which kicked off on August 10 and ended on September 27, 2025, featured 16 teams drawn from communities in the Abuja metropolis.
Speaking at the final, the organizer and Managing Director of Confino Lounge and Guesthouse, Mr. Emmanuel Cofie-Spiff, said the initiative was designed to take youths off the streets and channel their energy into meaningful pursuits.
“The whole idea of this tournament is to reach the youth, to ensure empowerment through leadership, unity, and peace. We hope that at the end of the day, what we have achieved will contribute to talent identification, development, and even feed into our national football system,” he said.
Cofie-Spiff explained that the tournament was self-funded, but expressed optimism that subsequent editions would attract greater support.
“This was a pilot case to show what is possible with conviction and commitment. Going forward, we are open to partnerships with donors and football associations to scale up the event,” he added.
The championship match ended in a thrilling penalty shootout, with Tevis United defeating Dunes FC to lift the trophy. The winners went home with N500,000, while the second and third-place teams received N300,000 and N200,000 respectively.
Chairman of the Nigerian Football Coaches Association, FCT Chapter, Coach Bakulomi David, hailed the standard of play, describing the final as “world-class.” He commended the organizers for creating a platform to discover hidden talent, urging government to support future editions.
“What we watched here can be played anywhere. The organizer has done a great job with his personal resources. Government should come in to support and improve on facilities,” he said.
Coach of Tevis United, James Ame, praised his players’ resilience and tactical discipline, noting that grassroots tournaments such as the Confino competition were crucial for football development.
“We saw a lot of talent here that scouts can pick for the future,” Ame added.
