The S.I. Amole Inter-Secondary School Female Football Competition has commenced as part of activities lined up for the 2026 Ibadan Cultural Festival Week, with the opening matches held at the Wesley College of Science Football Field, Elekuro, Ibadan.
The competition was officially kicked off by the Chairman of the 2026 Ibadan Cultural Festival Planning Committee, Mogaji Moshood Gbolagade Akere, who said the tournament was designed to promote youth development, female empowerment and community engagement through sports.
Akere explained that the football competition forms part of efforts to integrate sporting activities into the broader cultural celebration of Ibadan, adding that it provides a platform for young female students to showcase their talents while fostering unity and healthy competition among secondary schools in the city.
According to him, the tournament will run from February 9 to February 18, 2026, featuring female football teams drawn from secondary schools across Ibadan. The competition will progress through group stages, second round, quarter-finals and semi-finals, with the grand finale scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba.
The competition is sponsored by Mr. Temitope Ademola Obideyi, Chairman of the Ex-Ibadan Professional Footballers Association, and is being supervised by the Sports Sub-Committee of the Ibadan Cultural Festival 2026 Planning Committee. The sub-committee is chaired by Alhaja Folasade Olayiwola, who also serves as Chairperson of the Events, Entertainment and Sports Sub-Committee.
Results from the opening day of matches saw T.L. Oyesina Model High School defeat Olubadan High School 4–0. Elekuro High School edged St. Theresa’s College 6–5 on penalties, while Ibadan Grammar School recorded a 1–0 victory over Ojoo High School. August High School and Oluyoro Girls’ Grammar School did not turn up for their scheduled fixture.
Fixtures for subsequent matches have been announced. On Day Two, Tuesday, February 10, 2026, Queen of Apostles, Oluyoro will face Community High School, Agbowo by 10:00 a.m., followed by Oyo State Comprehensive Model College, Soka versus Liberty Academy Secondary School at 11:00 a.m. The third match of the day will see Urban Day Grammar School, Old Ife Road, take on Olunde Community Grammar School, Jogbin by noon.
Day Three matches, scheduled for Wednesday, February 11, 2026, include Bishop Phillips Academy against St. Clare’s Girls High School at 10:00 a.m., Methodist Secondary Grammar School, Elekuro versus Oba Abass Alesinloye Grammar School, Eleyele at 11:00 a.m., and Anwarul-Islam Grammar School, Eleyele against Community High School, Abudoro at noon. The final match of the day will feature IMG (Mixed) Grammar School against Bashorun Ojoo High School by 1:00 p.m.
Organisers expressed optimism that the competition would continue to attract strong participation and support, while contributing meaningfully to the celebration of Ibadan’s culture and the promotion of girls’ participation in sports.
