The Samuel Okwaraji Foundation, led by organising committee chairman Senator Osita Izunazo, has selected Lagos, Owerri and Calabar to host the Southern Zonal playoffs of the 2026 Memoir Cup, with matches scheduled across the three cities from Tuesday, 3 November, to Saturday, 7 November 2026.

The competition, organised in memory of former Super Eagles midfielder Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji, will bring together secondary school football teams representing Nigeria’s South-West, South-East and South-South regions as the national championship advances towards its concluding stage.

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The three venues are Maracana Stadium in Ajegunle, Lagos, for the South-West; Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri for the South-East; and UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar for the South-South.

The selection of the three centres marks an important stage in the competition, which began with state-level championships across the country earlier this year.

The zonal playoffs are designed to identify the regional representatives who will compete for the national title.

According to Izunazo, the three champions emerging from the southern contests will join three qualifiers from the Northern Zonal playoffs for the national finals in Lagos later in November.

The Northern Zonal competition has already been concluded, completing the first part of the regional qualification process and setting the stage for the southern contests.

The Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), which serves as the competition’s technical partner, has also expressed confidence in its preparations for the matches.

The federation’s President, Olabisi Joseph, said the organisers were committed to maintaining consistent standards across the remaining stages, particularly in the administration and transparency of the competition.

Joseph said: “We have ensured that all the processes and systems in place for this tournament are very thorough, efficient and transparent, and these standards will not drop or be lowered.

“We are ready for the zonal playoffs in the south, and they will be organised with the same standards used for the Northern region. I can assure you that these will also be maintained for the national finals later this month.”

The emphasis on transparent organisation reflects the broader ambition behind the Memoir Cup, which is to create a structured platform for identifying promising young footballers in secondary schools rather than limiting opportunities to established youth football pathways.

The competition is sponsored by First Bank and organised by the Samuel Okwaraji Foundation in collaboration with the Nigeria Football Federation and the Nigeria School Sport Federation.

Its inaugural edition began in June 2026, with state competitions organised across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The structure provides a progression from state championships to zonal playoffs and ultimately a national final, giving school teams an opportunity to compete beyond their immediate communities.

At its heart, however, the tournament carries a deeper significance beyond the pursuit of trophies and regional recognition.

The competition honours Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji, the Nigerian international whose death during national duty remains one of the most memorable tragedies in the country’s football history.

Okwaraji collapsed and died on 12 August 1989 while representing the Super Eagles in a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Angola at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos. He was 25.

A midfielder remembered for his commitment to Nigeria, Okwaraji was playing at a time when Nigerian football was building its international reputation.

His death during an important World Cup qualifying encounter left a lasting impression on supporters and the wider football community.

The Nigeria Football Federation has continued to acknowledge his contribution to the national team.

In 2015, former NFF President Amaju Pinnick publicly described Okwaraji as a patriot and professional, reaffirming the enduring place of the late footballer’s memory in Nigerian football.

The Memoir Cup extends that remembrance into grassroots development by linking Okwaraji’s legacy with opportunities for young students to demonstrate their abilities, develop their confidence and pursue football ambitions through organised competition.

For participating schools, the southern playoffs represent an opportunity to progress beyond state-level success and earn a place on the national stage.

For the organisers, the immediate task is to maintain credible competition standards while ensuring that emerging talent receives the attention and development opportunities it deserves.

With Lagos, Owerri and Calabar preparing to welcome the participating teams, the five-day southern contest will provide another significant opportunity to celebrate school football and strengthen the connection between education, sporting development and national pride.

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As the competition moves towards its national finals in Lagos, the wider ambition remains clear: to give young Nigerian footballers a meaningful platform while preserving the memory of a player whose dedication to the national team continues to inspire generations.