The 2026 edition of the Enugu State Football Association, ESFA, is set to kick start tomorrow at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, following the successful conduction of the draws of the participating teams.
The competition which is an annual grassroot tournament for discovering and nurturing talented players to greater height, would witness 20 teams from different parts of the metropolis, paired in Group A, B, C, D1, D2, as they jostle for the star prize.
In a statement signed on Monday by the Secretary of the Enugu State Football Association, Francis Ugwu, it reeled out the rules and regulations concerning the best global practices in football tournament.
According to the statement, the competition would be on a league and knockout phase., while explaining that if a team or club withdrawals from any groups, the remaining teams or clubs will just play to determine the winner and if teams ties on every point there will be thus of coin or penalty kicks to break the tie.
The statement further hinted that each team would be allowed to effect a change of five players in addition to the registered players with a fee of #5,000, adding that a red card offence of #2,000 must be paid before the next match, and the player must miss the match.
It also warned that any player involved in malpractice or double registration will be banned from the rest of the tournament and possibly other punishment be meted out, stressing that any team that abadon it’s match or matches shall be suspended from any organized matches by the state FA.
Energy FM sports correspondent, Ugochukwu Okeiyi, reports that the opening fixtures would see Great Achievers square off against AV Soccer by 9 am, Alpha Squads will take on Strikers at 11 am, while Disdevt vs Wale FA and Elite Space vs Graceland by 1 and 3 pm respectively.
