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The Kwara Football Academy (KFA) has departed Ilorin for Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, ahead of the 40th edition of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) Ramat International Cup. The annual youth football tournament will take place from August 8 to 16, 2025.
KFA will be represented by a 24-man contingent comprising 20 players and four officials in the Under-16 competition, as they bid to win the trophy for a record third time. The Academy previously clinched the title in 2020 and 2021 during the 37th and 38th editions held in Kano.
This year’s edition marks a historic shift, as Lafia steps in as host city for the first time in the tournament’s recent history, replacing Kano, which had hosted the competition for decades.
Organised annually in honour of Nigeria’s late Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed—assassinated on February 13, 1976—the Ramat Cup serves as a platform for discovering and nurturing young football talents from across the country while celebrating the legacy of the late leader.
The 2025 competition will feature Under-16 teams from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, promising a thrilling display of grassroots football.
Speaking before the team’s departure, KFA Technical Director, Samuel Elijah (MON), expressed confidence in the squad’s readiness.
“The boys have worked hard in training, and we are confident in our ability to compete strongly. Winning the Ramat Cup for the third time would be a proud moment for Kwara State and for the Academy,” he said.
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