The 2025 Chief Margaret Icheen Benue State Football League commenced on Sunday at the Benue State University Playground in Makurdi. Declaring the tournament open, Chief Mrs. Margaret Icheen, in whose honor the league is named, emphasized the importance of identifying and nurturing football talents in Benue State.
“I have always said with the football talents that abound in the state, we needed to have had more than just a football team that will be representing the state”.
Chief Icheen, a representative of the North Central region on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Board, urged participating teams to take the league seriously, as they not only play for fun but also to achieve their dreams of representing the state and nation. She expressed gratitude to the Benue State Football Association (BSFA) Board, led by Dr. Paul Edeh, for recognizing her contributions to football development in the state.
The immediate past chairman of the Benue State Football Association (BSFA), charged the match officials to ensure fair play in order for the League to be successful. And while praying for the success of the 2025 Benue State Football League, said, “in every competition, there must be a winner and a loser but if you lose today, tomorrow you will win so take every game you play very seriously”.
The BSFA Chairman, Dr. Edeh, stated that the league’s momentum was sustained due to the increased number of registered teams, demonstrating the association’s commitment to grassroots football development. He revealed that the winning team would receive N500,000, while the first and second runners-up would receive N300,000 and N200,000, respectively.
Additionally, the last eight teams to qualify for the “Super 8” would receive brand new jerseys and five balls each. Coaches from the top four teams would be offered automatic scholarships to study at the National Institute for Sports (NIS) in Abuja.
In the opening match, Unity Football Academy (Northbank Makurdi) thrashed Sulash Football Academy (Makurdi) 6-1, setting the tone for an exciting tournament.
