Jos, Plateau State, is set to become the centre of Nigerian club football as some of the country’s leading teams converge in the city for the 2026 NPFL Super 6 Pre-Season Championship, a one-week tournament designed to prepare Nigeria’s continental representatives for the challenges ahead.

The championship, which kicks off on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, will bring together six prominent clubs, including four teams representing Nigeria in next season’s CAF inter-club competitions. The participating teams are expected to arrive in Jos on Monday, August 17, ahead of the tournament.

Among the clubs heading to the Plateau State capital are Rangers International FC of Enugu and Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt, Nigeria’s representatives in the CAF Champions League, alongside Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan and El-Kanemi Warriors FC of Maiduguri, who will represent the country in the CAF Confederation Cup.

The two remaining slots will be occupied by the host state’s football giants, Plateau United FC and Mighty Jets FC, giving football fans in Jos the opportunity to watch some of the country’s top clubs compete in a high-quality pre-season tournament.

Preparing Nigeria’s Clubs for Continental Challenges

The championship is primarily aimed at ensuring that Nigeria’s representatives in continental competitions are adequately prepared for the demanding fixtures ahead. With Nigerian clubs seeking to make a stronger impression on the continental stage, the Jos tournament is expected to provide the participating teams with valuable competitive action, tactical testing and an opportunity to assess their squads ahead of the new season.

Beyond the continental representatives, the tournament will also provide Plateau United and Mighty Jets with an important platform to sharpen their squads and prepare for their own ambitions on the domestic and continental fronts.

The organisers believe the championship will help improve the competitiveness of Nigerian clubs while contributing to the broader development and promotion of football in the country.

Plateau Reaffirms Its Position as Football Hub

Speaking on the tournament, the Chairman of the Plateau State Football Association, Hon. (Dr.) Prince Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, expressed appreciation to the Plateau State Government for its continued support for sports development in the state.

“I must once again thank the Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, for giving sports, especially our football, an enabling and conducive environment to thrive with his unwavering support. We can’t thank him enough.”

Kwande noted that hosting the championship further demonstrates Plateau State’s growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s important football destinations.

“The hosting of the NPFL Super 6 in Jos further reinforces Plateau State’s growing reputation as a major football hub and destination for sporting excellence in Nigeria.”

Football Fans Invited to Jos

The Plateau State Football Association chairman also called on football lovers and residents of the state to take advantage of the championship and come out to support the participating clubs.

“We therefore warmly invite football lovers, supporters’ groups, youth organizations, sports enthusiasts, and the people of Plateau State to come out in large numbers to support the participating clubs and experience the excitement, competitiveness, and quality of Nigeria’s premier professional football.”

With six clubs bringing together a mixture of experience, ambition and continental aspirations, the tournament is expected to offer football enthusiasts in Jos a week of exciting encounters and quality football.

The 2026 NPFL Super 6 Pre-Season Championship is organised by the Plateau State Football Association (PFA) in conjunction with the Plateau State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

As the participating clubs arrive in Jos on August 17, attention will turn to the opening fixtures on Tuesday, August 18, as the Plateau State capital prepares to host what promises to be a significant pre-season football spectacle.

Jos is ready. The clubs are coming. And Nigerian football takes centre stage on the Plateau. ⚽🔥

Nigeria U19 captain Ali Rahmon has praised the Junior Yellow Greens’ disciplined bowling performance in their emphatic five-wicket victory over Ghana in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifier in Rwanda.

Nigeria bounced back strongly from their opening-day defeat to Uganda, restricting Ghana to just 93 runs all out before completing the chase at 96/5 in 22.2 overs to secure a crucial five-wicket victory.

Rahmon credited the bowlers for maintaining pressure throughout Ghana’s innings, particularly through a steady supply of dot balls that prevented the hosts from building meaningful partnerships.

“The bowling unit was disciplined and kept the pressure on Ghana. The dot balls helped us control the innings and put us in a strong position.”

However, the captain believes Nigeria still has work to do with the bat. Despite chasing a modest target, the Junior Yellow Greens lost five wickets before reaching the required total.

Rahmon admitted that losing wickets while chasing such a small target is an area the team must address as the qualification campaign continues.

“We did well with the ball, but the batting needs to improve. Losing five wickets while chasing 94 is something we have to look at.”

The victory has revived Nigeria’s hopes of progressing from the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifier, after the Junior Yellow Greens suffered an opening defeat to Uganda. Keneth Boniface was again influential, taking four wickets against Ghana before contributing 30 runs during the chase.

Nigeria’s preparation for the qualifier included a four-week high-performance camp designed to improve the players’ batting, bowling, fielding, fitness and tactical awareness.

The Junior Yellow Greens have now turned their attention to hosts Rwanda, with the crucial encounter scheduled for Wednesday, August 12. A strong result would further strengthen Nigeria’s bid to progress in the qualification race.

Rahmon and his teammates will therefore be looking for another disciplined bowling display while demanding greater composure from the batting department as Nigeria continues its pursuit of a place at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup.