The 2025 HerGame Girls Football Championship began in Abuja on Saturday with a bold announcement from founder and sole sponsor, Dr. Pat Ajuma Ayegba, who revealed plans to expand the fast-growing grassroots platform into a nationwide tournament by 2026.
The week-long championship, taking place from November 29 to December 6 at the Area 3 Sports Complex, features 16 teams in a fully funded environment that provides free registration, jerseys, training bibs, and logistics — a rare model in Nigerian grassroots sports.
Ayegba, an FCT FA board member and head of the FA’s Women’s Committee, said the initiative was conceived to break long-standing barriers that limit access and opportunity for young girls in football.
“We are breaking ceilings for the girl child. For too long, talent has been wasted simply because opportunity never arrived. HerGame is that opportunity, a platform that says to every girl, no matter where you come from, your dreams are valid,” she said.
Initially created as an FCT-only competition, HerGame expanded this year to cover the entire North Central zone. Ayegba confirmed that increasing interest from other regions has accelerated plans to take the tournament nationwide next year.
She emphasized that HerGame continues to attract players from underserved communities, giving them visibility and opportunities previously out of reach.
“It gives me joy to see a girl from a remote village standing on this field with the same confidence as someone from an elite academy. Football has the power to equalize. This is not just a tournament; it is a platform to showcase potential, build confidence, and help girls rewrite their stories,” she added.
The programme’s impact is already measurable. Over 85% of participants from the 2024 edition now feature in structured leagues, and several have gone on to become junior internationals — including one who represented Nigeria at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Last year’s MVP, Queen Joseph, was Nigeria’s top scorer at the Morocco 2025 U-17 Women’s World Cup and has returned this year to mentor younger players.
Ayegba reaffirmed her long-term ambition of making HerGame a key feeder system for Nigeria’s senior women’s national team.
“My dream is that one day, the Super Falcons will have at least 10 girls who started their journey here. And trust me, that day is coming,” she declared.
Co-Head of the Organising Committee and women’s football advocate, Moses Nagogo Bako, said the championship’s growing reputation comes from its integrity, age-verification process, and consistent talent output.
He commended Ayegba’s full sponsorship model, noting that it covers all kits, bibs, balls, and logistics — something he described as “almost unheard of” in grassroots development.
“The age alignment, the transparency, the raw talent, everything is right. We are certain more national team players will emerge from this year’s edition,” he said.
“What she is doing here is beyond sports. She is building futures. She deserves national recognition.”
Captain of defending champions Fosla Academy, Janet Bawa-Shukaga, also reflected on the significance of the competition as she led her team into another title defence.
“Being defending champions is an honour, and we came prepared to defend our title. This tournament is a huge opportunity for the girl child. My own teammate was selected from here to represent Nigeria at the World Cup. This competition is opening doors for many of us,” she said.
With the 2025 edition now underway and expansion plans gathering momentum, the HerGame Girls Championship continues its rise as one of Nigeria’s most influential talent-discovery platforms for young female footballers.
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