Seven young players from the Katsina State Football Academy have departed for Portugal to participate in the prestigious IBER CUP 2026 scheduled to take place in Cascais from March 31 to April 5.
The players will compete in the 2010 11v11 Elite category in partnership with Moonluck FC, as they aim to showcase their talents on the global stage.
Chairman of the academy, Ahmed Mohammed, described the tournament as a major opportunity for the players to gain international exposure and potentially secure professional contracts.
He noted that the competition will feature top youth teams from around the world, including sides such as SV Werder Bremen, UD Almería, and Phoenix Rising Stars from the United States. He added that the tournament environment also includes participation linked to global football giants like Manchester United, FC Porto, Bayern Munich, and FC Barcelona.
According to him, the participation is not only about competition but also about projecting Katsina State as an emerging hub for football development.
“This is a big opportunity for our players to showcase their talent, win prizes and attract international attention. It is also a chance to project Katsina on the global football map,” he said.
Mohammed further disclosed that international scouting programmes are expected to commence in Katsina, involving scouts from Malta and Belarus. He added that one of the academy’s players, Kabir Muhammad Kabir, is set to sign a professional contract with an Armenian-based club in June.
He also revealed that opportunities are being created for secondary school students in Katsina to secure football scholarships in the United States and Europe through an upcoming summer soccer combine programme.
The academy chairman expressed confidence in the team’s ability to perform well and represent Nigeria positively at the tournament.
