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| Champions of 2nd edition of Moses Andishu Northwest Ysfon U18 Championship - Katsina State |
By Zakari Haruna Isah
Katsina State's Under-18 stars once again proved why they are the team to beat in North-West youth football, storming to a commanding 4-1 victory over Sokoto State to retain the Moses Andishu North-West YSFON U-18 Championship title at the Murtala Muhammed Square, Kaduna.
The defending champions set the tone early, striking twice in the first half before adding two more after the break to seal a dominant title defence. Sokoto, who battled hard throughout the tournament to reach the final, managed only a consolation goal as Katsina's young talents put on a show worthy of champions.
Katsina attacker Umar Umar was the star of the show, netting a hattrick to emerge as the tournament's highest goalscorer, while Sokoto State's team captain was named Most Valuable Player of the final in recognition of his standout performance despite the loss.
Katsina had earned their final berth with a hard-fought win over host Kaduna State in the semis, while Sokoto booked their spot with a 2-0 victory over Kebbi State — setting up a final that lived up to the occasion.
Speaking on behalf of sponsor Moses Andishu at the close of the championship, Joseph Andishu hailed the tournament as a powerful platform for unearthing and nurturing the region's football talent.
"Our objective is to give these young players the opportunity to explore their talents, grow in confidence and develop into professional footballers," he said. "There are many gifted young players across the North-West, and initiatives like this can provide the platform and exposure they need to realise their full potential and pursue their dreams."
Andishu called on state governments across the North-West to deepen partnerships with the initiative, stressing that strategic investment in youth sports could drive economic growth, create jobs and open new doors for young people across the region.
The second edition of the championship wrapped up on a high note, showcasing some of the North-West's most promising young footballers and reaffirming the tournament's growing role as a launchpad for grassroots talent.
As Katsina's players celebrated their back-to-back triumph, the tournament once again underscored the untapped depth of football talent across the region — and the transformative potential of sustained investment in the game's future stars.
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| Sokoto State YSFON U18 Team |
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| Joseph Andishu fielding questions from Journalists |
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