Preparations have been completed for the 2026 edition of the Gusau/Ahlan Pre-Season Football Tournament, which is scheduled to kick off on August 7 at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina State.
The 10-day tournament, organised in honour of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, will feature 16 clubs from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and the Nigeria National League (NNL), all expected to use the competition to fine-tune their squads ahead of the new football season.
Tournament Coordinator, Alhaji Abahuraira Dahiru, said all arrangements have been concluded for a successful competition, noting that the Local Organising Committee, chaired by the Chairman of the Jigawa State Football Association, Alhaji Sabo Abdullahi, is working tirelessly to ensure that this year's edition becomes the best in the tournament's history.
The statement which was signed by the Media Coordinator of the tournament, Malikawa Garu, urged clubs interested in participating to contact the tournament secretariat for registration and other necessary information.
Dahiru explained that the competition, which began six years ago in Kano State, has continued to rotate across different parts of the country in line with its objective of promoting football development, sportsmanship and unity.
He commended the Katsina State Government under Governor Dikko Umar Radda for accepting to host this year's edition, describing the gesture as a reflection of the administration's commitment to the growth of football and sports development in the state.
The coordinator assured that the Local Organising Committee would work closely with the Katsina State Football Association and other relevant stakeholders to ensure a hitch-free tournament. He also appealed to football enthusiasts and residents of Katsina State to support the event and contribute to making it a memorable and successful competition.
Last year's edition of the tournament was hosted by Nasarawa State, with Kano Pillars emerging champions.