A total of 20 amateur clubs have registered to participate in this year’s Benue State Football Association (BSFA) league.

The annual competition will kick off with the official opening ceremony on Sunday, April 27 at the Benue State University (BSU) Makurdi sports complex.

Already, the 20 grassroots teams have been grouped and handed their fixtures following a well-attended technical meeting at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi.

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Each group is housing five clubs with group matches to be held across different venues.

The league which is named in honour of Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen, Nigeria’s first female Speaker of a State House of Assembly and current board member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), is said to be a grassroots football initiative under the leadership of the BSFA Chairman, Barr. Paul Edeh.

The FA Chairman has since emphasised the importance of the league saying it is not just as a sporting competition, but a movement to revive and sustain football excellence in Benue State.

“This league honors a trailblazer, Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen, whose contributions to leadership and sports development in Nigeria are enormous.

“Through this league, we are discovering the next generation of stars who will carry the torch of Benue football to the national and international stage.”

According to the draws, Unity FA, Police FC, Shadoo FA, Solash FC and DAF FC will compete in Group A, while Wadata Stars, Etuve FA, DOC Boys FA, Undaunted Stars FA, and Fire Brand FA are in Group B.

Group C is made up of Mighty Stars, BBL Hawks FC, Greg Legacy FA, Elite Dreams FC and Liberty City FC while SAF Youth FA, Super Rail FC, Talented FC. O.O Rangers FC and Udoji United FC will tread tackles in Group D.