BY SAB OSUJI

The 2023 edition of the prestigious annual Nanka Champions League final will be one with huge difference, quality, glamour and fanfare following confirmation that Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, will grace the final billed for Neros Stadium, Nanka, with his physical presence, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

The final match will hold on Monday, 1 January, 2024.

It will be the first time Nigeria's topmost football personality will be in the state box during any community-based football tournament in Anambra State.

Gloriously, this cheering development is coming during the tenure of 'General' Chikelue Iloenyosi as Chairman of Anambra State Football Association.

Iloenyosi, a former U23 Olympic Eagles and Super Eagles defender, confirmed to Exclusivenews.com.ng that Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau will attend the 2023 Nanka Champions League final on January 1, 2024.

"I wish to inform you that the NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, will be in Nanka on January 1, 2024 for the final of Nanka Champions League", 'General' Iloenyosi said in a message he personally signed and mailed to Exclusivenews.com.ng on 23 December, 2023.. 

"This is an official notification with regards to the event", he added.

Since assumption of office in July, 2022 as Anambra FA Chairman, football, especially at the grassroot, has taken a giant leap in the South East State, Anambra.

The state has become the football 'Mecca' of sorte in the country with virtually all cadres of the domestic competitions being hosted at its modest astro-turf facility, the Awka City Stadium.

Aside hosting Rangers NPFL matches since 2022, the Awka City Stadium has been hosting NLO 1 and NLO 2 play offs, Women Federation Cup games as well as Men's Federation Cup games.

These are asides local competitions packaged by the FA which includes but not limited to the first ever Anambra,State All Stars Competition etc which have in no small way given football a massive boost in the state.

Engr Akonam Obiefule, initiator of the Nanka Champions League project, hinted Exclusivenews.com.ng that 11 teams are participating in the 2023 edition of the championship which comes to a fitting climax on Monday, 1 January, 2024.

Obiefule, who is also Chairman of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria, YSFON, Anambra Chapter, revealed that over N3.1m will be won as prize money.

"Overall winners of the championship will take home a sum of N1.5m as well as a giant trophy", he said.

"The runners-up will collect N900,000 while third placed team smiles home with N600,000 just as the fourth placed team receives N100,000 consolation money", Obiefule added.