The Honda Football Championship was officially launched today at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale, marking the beginning of what promises to be an exciting football competition for eight (8) selected tertiary institutions in Ghana. The competition is set to begin tomorrow, Tuesday, 24th March 2026, and will run through to Saturday, 28th March 2026 at Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium.

The event brought together key stakeholders in sports, education, and business, all united by a shared vision to develop young football talent while strengthening community engagement through sport.

Representing the National Sports Authority, Ibrahim Alhassan Jihad, Regional Director, expressed his excitement about Tamale being selected as the host city. He extended heartfelt appreciation to Honda for choosing the Northern Region, emphasizing that the championship would greatly impact youth development and sports growth in the area.

Mr. Shaibu Ibrahim Tanko, President of the Ghana University Sports Association (GUSA), thanked Honda and their partners Overseas Union Ltd as well as RITE Sports Services, for their efforts in bringing the championship to life. He highlighted the importance of such initiatives in promoting competitive university sports and providing a platform for student-athletes.

Alhaji Abu Hassan Rhyzo, Regional Football Association Chairman, also took to the stage, acknowledging distinguished guests and expressing gratitude to Honda for selecting Tamale. He stressed the importance of discipline among players, urging young athletes to take full advantage of the exposure the championship offers while maintaining professionalism on and off the pitch.

Adding a traditional and community perspective, the representative of the Chief of Chuggu, Chuggu Naa Mahama II, praised Honda for investing in Tamale. He confidently stated that the region is well-positioned for such a project, noting its rich history of producing talented footballers. He also made an appeal for a reduction in the cost of Honda motorbikes to make them more accessible to the local population.

Joseph Kwabena Daniels, Lead Business Development at Overseas Union Limited, reflected on Honda’s journey in Tamale, recalling their arrival 16 years ago. He highlighted the establishment of a power assembly plant in the region, which has created employment opportunities for many young people. He further noted that locals were trained to service Honda bikes according to global standards. Speaking on the championship, he explained that the Honda Football Championship is tailored to align with sporting seasons and encouraged institutions and stakeholders to explore partnership opportunities.

Francis Lew-Dibahi, Deputy Manager at Honda Motor Southern Africa, emphasized that the initiative is deeply rooted in Honda’s philosophy of community impact and development, reaffirming their commitment to sustaining such programs.

Mr Nurudeen Issah Abubakari Registrar of University for Development Studies represented of the Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS) delivered a brief welcome address, assuring all stakeholders of the university’s full support to ensure the success of the tournament.

The highlight of the launch was the official balloting, which determined the group stage matchups for the competition. The draw revealed a strong line up of institutions: Group A, University for Development Studies (UDS), University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU). Group B, University of Ghana (UG), University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), University for Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS), Tamale Technical University (TaTU)

With the groups now set and kick off just hours away, anticipation is already building as teams prepare to battle for supremacy. The Honda Football Championship is expected to not only deliver thrilling football action but also serve as a vital platform for discovering and nurturing the next generation of Ghanaian football stars.