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The Kwara Kiddies League has announced an 18-man selected squad that will take on Nigeria’s U-17 national team, the Golden Eaglets, in a high-profile developmental match scheduled for Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at the Goal Project, Abuja.
The encounter is expected to provide a valuable platform for some of the league’s brightest talents to test themselves against the country’s best players in their age category while gaining important exposure at the national level.
The selected team comprises standout performers drawn from clubs participating in the Kwara Kiddies League, a grassroots football development project that has been nurturing young talents across the state since its inception in 2022.
Among the notable names in the squad are Eko Martins of Kwara Football Academy (KFA), who was named the league’s Most Valuable Player last season, and Ajibola Gidado of Unicorn FA, the top scorer from the previous campaign. Also included is Tobi Adeoye of KFA, widely regarded as the Kiddies League’s all-time leading goalscorer.
League organizers described the fixture as another significant step in the competition’s mission to provide young players with opportunities to compete at higher levels and accelerate their development.
“This is a unique opportunity for our players to measure their progress against the nation’s best U-17 talents,” Chief Operating Officer Ibrahim Jatto said. “The objective is not just the result but the experience, learning, and exposure that come from competing against a team like the Golden Eaglets.”
The Kwara Kiddies League began as an Under-12 competition in 2022 and has since expanded its development structure to accommodate players up to the Under-16 level. The project has earned recognition for identifying and nurturing talented young footballers through organized competition and structured player development programs.
The selected squad features strong representation from Unicorn FA, KFA, Achievers FA, Barca Kiddies, Surprise FA, Makamz FA , and Afrikan Kiddies FA.
Goalkeepers Owolabi Abdullahi (Achievers FA) and Tajudeen Abdulmalik (Surprise FA) have been handed the responsibility of guarding the team’s goal, while a host of attacking talents are expected to provide excitement against the seven-time world champions.
Selected Squad
Goalkeepers
Owolabi Abdullahi (Achievers FA)
Tajudeen Abdulmalik (Surprise FA)
Defenders/Midfielders/Forwards
Oyeyemi Abdulsobur (Unicorn FA)
Ajibola Gidado (Unicorn FA)
Tijani Abdullahi (Unicorn FA)
Abubakar Muhammed (Unicorn FA)
Eko Martins (KFA)
Yunus Abdulmajeed (Achievers FA)
Badmus Taiye (Makamz FA )
Abdulrasaq Nasirudeen (Unicorn FA)
Abdullahi Ibrahim (Afrikan Kiddies FA)
Umar Abdulrahman (Barca Kiddies)
Ajayi Vincent (KFA)
Ajao Bilal (Surprise FA)
Ishaq Toheeb (Barca Kiddies)
Abdulsalam Fuhad (KFA)
Tobi Adeoye (KFA)
Adeyemi Oluwaseyi (Unicorn FA)
Kick-off is expected at the Goal Project, where the selected stars will seek to leave a lasting impression against one of Africa’s most successful youth national teams.
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