Renewed Hope Unity Cup Names NFF President Gusau as Patron
Organizers of the Renewed Hope Unity Cup Football Competition on Wednesday invested Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President and WAFU‑B chief Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, MON, as patron of the tournament, in a ceremony at the NFF Secretariat in Abuja.
The investiture was performed by Hon. Suleiman Yahaya‑Kwande, former NFF Executive Committee member, two‑term lawmaker and current chairman of the Plateau State Football Association.
Yahaya‑Kwande, who also serves as national coordinator of Cornerflag Connection Ltd, said the move was strategic in building partnerships and galvanising support for the 2026 edition of the competition.
‘The Renewed Hope Unity Cup is not just about discovering football talent,’ Yahaya‑Kwande said. ‘It is about youth empowerment, fostering unity, and contributing to national development. That is why we needed a patron whose leadership in football governance can help us achieve these goals.’
The competition, branded ‘À Goal Nigeria’ – shorthand for ‘Asiwaju Go On And Lead Nigeria’ – is designed to involve all 774 local government areas across the country, uniting young Nigerians through sport.
Responding, Gusau described the initiative as ‘noble’ and aligned with the NFF’s mission to grow football from the grassroots.
‘This is a welcome idea, and I am excited to be a patron of the initiative. As the football‑governing body in the country, the NFF will play an active role and watch keenly for those exceptional talents that can break into the various national teams through the competition,’ he said.
With Gusau’s investiture, organizers say the Renewed Hope Unity Cup has secured a powerful ally in its drive to use football as a tool for unity, empowerment, and national progress.
