NLO Expands Youth League with Community Venues for 2025 Season The Nationwide League One (NLO) has officially approved 14 venues nationwide to host the U‑19 Youth League for the 2025 season. Running from June 20 to July 20, this initiative will feature over 200 teams competing across 16 match centres, bringing grassroots football closer to local communities and expanding Nigeria’s youth development network. This new structure forms part of the NLO’s 10-year masterplan adopted in 2024, which emphasises regional inclusivity and accessible competition formats. By staging matches across diverse states—from Lagos and Kano to Gombe, Bauchi, Sagamu, Katsina and Sokoto the NLO aims to foster local talent and expose players to organized competitions on home soil. The stadiums selected range from Legacy Pitch in Lagos, Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, Kayode Oluyemi Stadium in Ado‑Ekiti, to Lafia City Stadium in Nasarawa, ensuring geographic spread and logistical efficiency. Each venue is expected to host multiple matches, reducing travel burdens on young athletes and improving fan engagement. This community‑based model reflects the NLO’s long-term strategy: to transform the third-tier league into a hub for youth talent development, reinforced by sustainable infrastructure, structured coaching, and local ownership. Editorial We believe the NLO’s decision to bring the U‑19 Youth League to community-centred venues is both strategically sound and forward-thinking. Rather than concentrate fixtures in a few major cities, this dispersed format creates real access points for local fans and stakeholders nurturing passion at the grassroots level. By deploying youth competitions across 16 centres, the NLO reduces travel strain on young players a crucial factor for both academic commitments and financial constraints. The model shows respect for context, adaptability and inclusion.