Bwari Area Council, Jay One Win 2026 FCT FA Competition

Bwari Area Council and Jay One FA on Saturday emerged champions of the 2026 FCT Football Association (FCT FA) Women’s Inter-Area Council Tournament and Division One League respectively in Abuja.
Bwari defeated Kuje Area Council 1-0 in the final of the women’s tournament played at the Area 3 Football Pitch, Abuja, to clinch the second edition of the competition.
In the third-place match, Kwali Area Council drew 1-1 with AMAC Area Council before winning 3-1 on penalties to secure the bronze medal.
The women’s tournament, which commenced on Aug. 21, provided an opportunity for female footballers from the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory to showcase their talents and develop their skills and ended today.
Speaking after the event, Salihu Kolo, First Vice Chairman, FCT FA, who represented the association’s Chairman, Muktar Mohammed, said the annual competition was part of efforts to promote grassroots football development.
Kolo said the competition would enable the association to identify talented players capable of representing the FCT at higher levels, adding that regular competitions were essential to developing football from the grassroots.
He commended the Area Councils for their growing involvement in sports development, citing recent football competitions organised in Kwali, Kuje and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
“Football is our food,” Kolo said, expressing confidence that other Area Councils would emulate Kwali by investing more in grassroots football development.
Iyiola Ogundele, Acting Director, FCT Sports Council, described the development as “the way to go”, saying the level of participation demonstrated the growing interest in sports among youths across the territory.
Ogundele said the FCT Sports Council had continued to encourage youth development across the Area Councils through football, basketball and other sporting activities.
“I want to appealed to the media to support sports development by giving adequate publicity to competitions and young talents.
“Adding that sports remained an important tool for education, healthy living and talent development,” he said.
Pat Ayegba, sponsor of the 2026 FCT Football Association (FCT FA) Women’s Inter-Area Council Tournament , commended the FCT FA for providing opportunities for young female footballers to participate in organised competitions.
“The scouts had attended some of the matches and identified promising players, describing the development as a major step toward strengthening women’s football in the FCT,”he said.
He also announced that the third edition of the FCT FA Women’s Inter-Area Council Tournament would be held in April 2027 and promised that it would be bigger and better.
“The 2027 edition would also be used as an opportunity to revive the FCT Queens and provide more young female players with a pathway into professional football,” she said .
Tukura Daniel, Chief of Staff to the Bwari Area Council Chairman, Joshua Musa, attributed the council’s victory to adequate preparation and commitment to sports development.
Daniel said Bwari had been preparing for the competition and would continue to work toward retaining the trophy in subsequent editions.
Meanwhile, Jay One FA defeated Basic Football Club 1-0 in the final match of the 2026 FCT FA Division One League to emerge champions.
The 2026 FCT FA Division One League commenced on July 13 and ended on Sept. 5 at the Area 3 Football Pitch, with Jay One FA earning the right to represent the FCT at the NLO playoffs in 2027.
Ezeude Justin, Chief Executive Officer of Jay One Football Academy and head coach of the team, expressed delight over the victory, attributing the success to God, the players, coaches and management.
“I began assembling the current squad around February and was pleased that the players had progressed to the level of winning the league.
“I commend the FCT FA Chairman, Muktar Mohammed, the Secretary , Haruna Ilerika and other board members for their efforts toward football development in the territory.
“I want to appealed to the government to provide greater support for grassroots football, saying increased investment would help young players progress to professional football,” he said.
Mathew said the team would take only a brief break before resuming training for the NLO playoffs, stressing that the players would remain focused on securing qualification.
“There is no rest at all until we go there and get the ticket for the NLO. We are not relaxing at all,” he said.