The 2026 Nathaniel Idowu Junior 7s All Secondary Schools Football League began over the weekend at the New Maracana Sports Complex in Tolu, Ajegunle, with the opening programme showcasing the promise and intensity of grassroots school football. The first round featured emphatic wins, a six-goal thriller and determined performances as the competing teams started their campaigns for the championship.
Sacred Heart produced the most convincing result of the day, beating El Leonora 3-0 to move to the summit of the early standings. Newland Senior Secondary School and Dorcas Memorial College provided the round’s biggest spectacle, sharing six goals in a pulsating 3-3 draw after a sustained attacking contest from both teams. Gracewell Academy, Coker opened with a 2-0 victory against Topfield College, while GIF College claimed an important 2-1 win over Doradiem Schools following a closely fought match.
Backed by the Nathaniel Idowu Foundation, which was founded by Chief Yemi Idowu, the competition is intended to support sports development at grassroots level. It offers young players an opportunity to be identified and developed, while also promoting the need for students to combine their sporting ambitions with their academic responsibilities.
Peakline Sports World Limited is staging the league under the leadership of its Director-General, McAnthony Anaelechukwu. The collaboration is designed to create an organised route for school-age footballers and promote values including discipline, teamwork and fair play. After an entertaining first matchday, the focus will shift to the next set of fixtures as the schools prepare for another round of contests.
