BY: ABDULKADIR M LAWAN, JULY 19, 2026/ 03:29PM
The Borno State Football Club Owners Association, BOSFCOA, has announced that the Babagana Kalli 'Ozogola' FA Cup will kick off next month in Borno State.
The Ozogola FA Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is an annual knockout football competition in the state.
Now in its 20th season, the tournament is organised by the BOSFCOA in partnership with the Borno State Football Association.
It is named after the Football Association Chairman and North-East NFF Board Member, Alh. Babagana Kalli Kachalla, popularly known as Ozogola.
According to BOSFCOA, the competition remains the most anticipated football tournament in the state.
For the first time, a concurrent Women's Babagana Kalli Ozogola FA Cup has been established for the 2026/27 season.
Organisers said 16 teams will participate in the women's tournament with free registration.
For the men's category, over 200 clubs are being projected across the state with registration ongoing at N10,000.
The competition is open to all eligible clubs from under-15 up to the elite NFPL, NNL, NLO down to Division I of the Borno State football league cycle.
A record 129 clubs competed in the 2025-26 edition, but organisers expect an increase this season.
The tournament will consist of 5 randomly drawn rounds followed by the semi-finals and the final.
Entrants are not seeded, although a system of byes based on league level ensures higher ranked teams enter in later rounds.
BOSFCOA urged interested clubs to complete registration ahead of next month’s kickoff.