The All Progressives Congress (APC) Gubernatorial Campaign Council on Monday officially unveiled the AMBO-Kayode Unity Cup 2026, a grassroots football tournament aimed at promoting youth development, talent discovery, peace, and unity across Osun State.
The unveiling ceremony, which also featured the official draw and presentation of the tournament trophy, took place at the Ileri Oluwa Campaign Office in Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo. The event attracted party leaders, football stakeholders, youth groups, coaches, and supporters from across the state.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Hon. Lawerance Ayeni, said the tournament was created to harness football as a unifying tool while creating opportunities for talented young people across Osun State.
According to him, the competition is structured to include grassroots football clubs and non-league players from all local government areas in the state. Matches will progress from local government stages to federal constituency and senatorial district levels before the grand finale.
Ayeni added that the initiative aligns with the sports and youth development agenda of the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), and his running mate, Engr. Benjamin Adereti, describing football as a strong instrument for social integration and community development.
The Director-General of the APC Campaign Council, Hon. Oluwole Oke, represented by Dr. Festus Olowogboyega, a member of the Federal Civil Service Commission representing Oyo and Osun States, commended the initiative, noting that sports remain one of the most effective tools for fostering unity across political, ethnic, and social divides.
He urged participants and supporters to see the tournament as a platform for peacebuilding and grassroots mobilization ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the AMBO Campaign Committee on Events and Special Duties, Hon. Rufus Oyegbile, described the Unity Cup as a strategic initiative designed to deepen community engagement and strengthen ties between the APC and the grassroots.
He added that beyond talent discovery, the tournament would help promote the vision and programmes of the AMBO-Kayode ticket across all parts of the state.
In his remarks, the Osun State Chairman of the Grassroots Football Developers of Nigeria (GFDN), Coach Abdulrasheed Adeleke, praised the initiative, describing football as a universal language that fosters unity, discipline, and peaceful coexistence.
He expressed confidence that the competition would help uncover hidden talents while contributing to the development of grassroots football in Osun State.
The APC Deputy Governorship Candidate, Engr. Benjamin Adereti, also commended the organisers for using sports as a tool for youth empowerment and social harmony. He noted that if elected, the AMBO-Kayode administration would prioritize sports development and youth engagement across the state.
Adereti further urged youths, supporters, and football enthusiasts to use the tournament as a platform to rally support for the APC ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
Speakers at the event unanimously emphasized that football remains a powerful unifying force capable of promoting peace, love, and community development. They encouraged participants to embrace the competition in the spirit of sportsmanship while contributing to the success of the party in the forthcoming election.
The AMBO-Kayode Unity Cup 2026 is being organized by the AMBO Campaign Committee on Events and Special Duties in collaboration with the Grassroots Football Developers of Nigeria (GFDN), Osun State Chapter, under the supervision of the Osun State Football Association.
The tournament is expected to feature teams from all local government areas of Osun State, with winners and outstanding players set to receive cash prizes, trophies, medals, and other incentives aimed at promoting excellence and grassroots sports development.
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