2024 FC BAYERN YOUTH CUP: Kano youngster, Hamza Badamasi, gets invitation to Munich World Final
Hamza Badamasi, a Kano-based youngster, was adjudged the second highest goal scorer and the highest assist giver at the just concluded 2024 FC Bayern Youth Cup in Enugu.
By virtue of his performance, Hamza, alongside few others, has been invited to play at the Munich’s Arena Stadium in Germany.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles coach, Ladan Bosso, was the special guest of honour at the final of the 2024 Bayern Youth Cup.
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Bosso was said to have arrived Enugu on Friday to grace the colourful talent hunt event which held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
Coach Bosso joined Enugu state Commissioner for Youth and Sports development, Lloyd Ekweremadu, to give the event the needed support.
Lars Weichert, Bayern Head of International Youth programs and Christian Saba, Bayern legend and U19 team lanager are personnel on ground scrutinizing the players to ensure that the best talent emerged.
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Selected players will represent Nigeria in Germany during the Munich World Youth Cup Final later in the year.
The talent hunt programme was organised and sponsored by VOE Foundation.
Ten teams participated in the tournament drawn from across the country.
The tournament also served as an opportunity for Nigeria’s national youth teams to monitor new talents. That, it seemed, was why Bosso was interested in the event.
Facts about FC Bayern Youth Cup
The FC Bayern Youth Cup in Nigeria is a prestigious youth football tournament organized by the VOE Foundation in collaboration with FC Bayern Munich.
This tournament aims to identify elite U16 boys in Nigeria, with the winning team representing the country at the world finals held at the Allianz Arena in Munich. Since its inception in 2018, over 10,000 players have participated in this tournament, with some players going on to receive invitations to national team training camps and even representing Nigeria in regional tournaments and the U17 FIFA World Cup.
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Notably, several players have also pursued professional careers in both local and European leagues as a result of their participation in this competition.
Editions
The FC Bayern Youth Cup in Nigeria has seen multiple editions since its launch. The 2022 edition marked a significant milestone as Team Nigeria emerged as champions for the first time, showcasing exceptional talent among Nigerian youth players.
Despite challenges posed by the global pandemic, the tournament continued with support from Bayern Munich coaches who conducted training camps for selected players via online platforms. Notably, players like Stanley Iheanacho and Christian Nwachukwu earned call-ups to the national U17 team and subsequently ventured into professional football careers in Europe.
In 2019, the tournament received support from prominent figures such as Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr and Bayern legend Klaus Augenthaler. This edition proved successful with talents like Daniel Francis being discovered, leading to his representation of Nigeria at the U17 World Cup and securing a contract with Bayern Munich. Additionally, Kelvin Agho from Ablaze FC emerged as a standout player who later signed a professional contract with Crystal Palace in England.
Overall, the FC Bayern Youth Cup in Nigeria plays a crucial role in nurturing young talent and providing opportunities for aspiring footballers to showcase their skills on an international stage.
