Abia State is gearing up to discover Nigeria’s next generation of football stars with the maiden edition of the Abia Soccer Fest (ASF), a grassroots football league aimed at nurturing local talent. The tournament, themed “From Grassroots to Greatness,” kicks off on Saturday, August 23, 2025, spanning all 184 wards in the state before progressing to local government levels and culminating in a state final.
Ambassador Eric Asomugha, Vice-chairman of the Local Organising Committee, emphasised the state’s rich football legacy, referencing legends like Nwankwo Kanu and AC Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze as inspirations. “We want to discover talents and create employment. Abia is home to these stars, and more talented young players await discovery,” Asomugha told journalists in Umuahia following the zonal draws.
He appealed to stakeholders to support and sponsor participating teams to ensure full representation across all wards and local governments. Both local and international scouts will monitor the tournament keenly, seeking promising prospects early in their careers.
