Some time in 2015/2016 season, the NPFL in collaboration with LaLiga decided to organize an U15 Youth Championship at the end of the regular season , this was heralded with a loud ovation from the football community. Players from the championship were excellent, that many of them graduated to the senior teams, while others played up to the national teams. Later, the NPFL upgraded it U17 which was not out of place, and some players made it to the National Junior teams. Now, the NPFL has pushed the tournament to U19 level.

The 2025 edition of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) U19 League was  a cautionary tale—one that exposed the cracks in our footballing structures and the moral decay in the corridors of power. A tournament meant to showcase teenagers turned into a theatre of scandal where “the elders decided to dance naked” before the nation.

The NPFL U19 League was conceived with the wrong intentions. The leadership of the NPFL may have muted it with an intention not known to many. It was supposed to be pathway for young players, to gain  game time in a competitive setting, and allow scouts and clubs to identify the next generation of stars, but it turned to be a mere jamboree of like minds without any genuine intentions. Funny enough most of the club managers participating in the tournament, claimed ignorance of the motive behind the tournament. Many queried why an U19 tournament should come up at all, since the NLO U19 League has already gained ground for the past three seasons. They queried that this maybe a lack of unique ideas, a misplaced priority and duplication of efforts which is affecting the League at senior level. 

Be it as it may, the ideals behind the tournament were overshadowed by allegations—and in some cases, clear evidence—of age fraud. Teams fielded players who were clearly older than 19. Videos and photos circulated on social media showing players with receding hairlines, full beards, and in some cases, wives and children cheering them on from the stands. In the real sense, an U19 player is supposed to be an integral part of the main team. An U19 player in a sane society is supposed to be at the peak of his football in the main team, and not been subjected to a championship that its purpose are clouded by uncertainty. Good enough, many football stakeholders know the purpose of establishing the NLO U19 League, which is very clear, but that of NPFL is still a subject of future discussions. 

A team official was quoted to be bemoaning how some 'uncles' were used to play against his team. Some team officials were accused of circumventing the processes of the screening to favour their teams. 

When challenged, many clubs and their officials responded with feigned innocence, or worse, defiance. That’s when the elders—the administrators of NPFL —decided to “dance naked” before the world. Rather than protect the integrity of youth development, they chose to prioritize short-term glory, gatekeeping, and greed.

This wasn’t just a lapse in judgment—it was a systemic failure.

Age fraud in African football isn’t new, but the blatant display in a tournament meant for development was especially disgraceful. Rather than providing a platform for actual teenagers to grow, the tournament became a playground for players who had already passed through multiple club systems, or worse, never belonged there to begin with.

The actions of these so-called elders didn’t just tarnish the league—they robbed earlier convinced NPFL Youth Championship  of its conceived intentions. The NPFL U19 Championship is an aberration, and its effect is seen on our CHAN Eagles,where men that can no longer move on the pitch are allowed to represent the country. 

When leaders choose to compromise the future for present convenience, they fail not just the game—but the country.

If Nigerian football is serious about development, this can’t happen again. The NPFL U19 should be paused, reviewed, and restructured. It should revert back to either U15 or U17 since an U19 League is already in place with NLO. 

The 2025 NPFL U19 League will be remembered—not for breakout stars or beautiful football, but for the shame of its elders. In a time when integrity was needed, those entrusted with nurturing the next generation instead chose to dance naked in the village square, unashamed and unrepentant.

Let this be the last of NPFL U19 Championship. 
Nigeria’s football future depends on the stars produced in the NPFL Youth Championships. Box 18 has spoken. 

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