Morgan Ekanem Backs Inaugural High School Football Tournament in Oruk Anam
Ikot Okoro, Nigeria – 1 May 2025 — The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Oruk Anam High School Football Tournament has officially announced the maiden edition of the competition, which is set to kick off on Friday, 2 May 2025.
The event is an initiative of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Barrister Morgan Ekanem, and aims to support the sports development policy of Governor Umo Eno.
Speaking the initiator, Barr. Morgan said the vision of the tournament is to bring together best talent from Oruk Anam.
He said “We are starting this competition, because we believe the best can come out of Oruk Anam”
The tournament, scheduled to run from 2 to 15 May, will feature 14 public secondary schools in Oruk Anam Local Government Area in a knockout-style competition, with matches to be held at two venues: Southern Annang Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot Okoro, and QIC Secondary School, Ibesit.
According to the LOC’s Team Lead, Emma Akpabio, the event is designed to “nurture young talents, encourage healthy competition among students, and promote sports development” in the region.
The opening ceremony will take place at 2:00 p.m. at Southern Annang Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot Okoro. It will feature a school parade, cultural performances, goodwill messages from sports enthusiasts and talent scouts, and the tournament’s first match between Community Secondary School, Mbiakot and QIC Secondary School, Ika Annang.
Winners of the tournament stand to receive substantial prize money, with the first-place team taking home N700,000, the second-place team receiving N500,000, and the third-place team earning N300,000. Individual awards will also be presented to outstanding players.
Outlining the tournament structure, Akpabio confirmed a single-elimination format. Seven winners will emerge from the initial round of 14 teams, with one best-performing loser advancing to the quarter-finals to join them. From there, eight teams will compete for a place in the semi-finals, followed by a final showdown on Sunday, 15 May.
All participants are required to meet strict eligibility criteria, including age verification and registration through the LOC. Players must be under the age of 17, and any breach of the rules, such as fielding ineligible players, will lead to immediate disqualification.
The tournament will adhere to FIFA rules, with a maximum of four substitutions allowed per match and penalties used to resolve tied games.
The LOC extended appreciation to partners and sponsors, while inviting football scouts, fans, and members of the public to attend the matches and support the budding talent in the area.
“The stakes are high and the rewards are worth fighting for,” said Akpabio. “We look forward to an exciting fortnight of football.”
