The Federal Capital Territory Football Association (FCTFA) has pledged stronger grassroots investment in women’s football, with chairman Adam Mouktar Muhammad stressing that equal opportunities across all six area councils are essential to finding and developing talent.
FCTFA targets wider women’s football development
- Speaking during the opening match of the 2026 FCT FA Women’s Inter-Area Council Football Tournament at the Area 3 Sports Complex, Muhammad pointed to defending champions Abuja Municipal Area Council’s emphatic 7-0 win against Gwagwalada as the first result of the competition.
- He said the women’s game urgently requires a larger pool of talent and insisted that the FCT must play its part. Rather than waiting for outside programmes to produce players before beginning the scouting process, the association wants every area council to have the chance to enter a team.
- Muhammad said this approach reflects the FCTFA’s belief in fairness and broad access. He added that the tournament is also intended to provide young people with meaningful opportunities to develop through sport, not merely to identify footballers.
- The competition brings together all six area councils, divided into two groups. Group A contains AMAC, Bwari and Gwagwalada, while Abaji, Kuje and Kwali make up Group B.
Omidiran welcomes grassroots intervention
Federal Character Commission Executive Chairman and former NFF Board Member Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran praised the initiative as the kind of grassroots action needed to restore the country’s women’s football foundation after the Super Falcons missed out on qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Omidiran also credited FCT FA board member Dr Pat Ajuma Ayegba with launching the tournament. She said its objectives closely match her Girls Play Sports Initiative, which uses football to help young women build resilience and discipline while opening clearer routes towards professional careers.
