The Kano State chapter of the Nigerian Football Coaches’ Association (NFCA) has appealed to the Executive Governor of Kano State, His Excellency Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, to sponsor six indigenous football coaches nominated to participate in the forthcoming Confederation of African Football (CAF) coaching licence courses.
The appeal was made by the association’s Chairman, Ibrahim Gwadabe, who said the financial support would enable the selected coaches to participate in the 2026 CAF coaching programmes organised by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
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According to Gwadabe, the CAF “A” Licence Coaching Course is scheduled to be held in Abuja from 2 August 2026 to 7 February 2027, while the CAF “B” Licence Refresher Course will take place from 20 to 24 June 2026.
He explained that the courses are designed to enhance the technical competence of Nigerian coaches and align coaching standards in the country with modern international best practices.
Gwadabe noted that despite Kano State’s rich football heritage and its status as one of Nigeria’s foremost football centres, the state still has relatively few coaches with the highest CAF coaching qualifications.
He stressed that sponsoring the six nominees would help bridge this gap and contribute significantly to the continued development of football in the state.
According to him, investing in the education and certification of indigenous coaches would improve player development, raise coaching standards, strengthen grassroots football, and enhance the competitiveness of Kano-based clubs in national and continental competitions.
The NFCA chairman disclosed that six qualified indigenous coaches have been nominated for the CAF coaching programmes.
They are Ibrahim Gwadabe, Abdu Maikaba Fagge, Mustapha Sheikh Muhammad, Bala Sule Fagge, Shehu Jinjiri Gaya, and Suleiman Shuaibu.
He explained that Ibrahim Gwadabe, Abdu Maikaba Fagge, and Mustapha Sheikh Muhammad have been nominated for the prestigious CAF “A” Licence Coaching Course, while Bala Sule Fagge, Shehu Jinjiri Gaya, and Suleiman Shuaibu will participate in the CAF “B” Licence Refresher Course.
Gwadabe further revealed that the participation fee for the CAF “A” Licence Course is ₦3 million per coach, while the CAF “B” Licence Refresher Course attracts a fee of ₦700,000 per participant.
“In total, the sum of Eleven Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira (₦11.1 million) is required to cover the participation of the six coaches in the two CAF coaching programmes,” he said.
He added that, beyond the financial commitment, all applicants are required to pass a mandatory pre-course assessment and satisfy other eligibility requirements before being admitted into the programmes.
Gwadabe expressed optimism that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf would give favourable consideration to the association’s appeal, describing the proposed sponsorship as a strategic investment in human capital, youth empowerment, and the long-term development of football in Kano State.
He maintained that equipping indigenous coaches with internationally recognised CAF coaching qualifications would not only improve the quality of coaching across the state but also reinforce Kano’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading producers of football talent and help restore its pride of place in the country’s football landscape.
