Secondary schools across Delta State are set to battle for football supremacy as the 2026 edition of the Zenith Bank Delta Principals’ Cup kicks off on Wednesday, September 30, with a comprehensive competition schedule spanning preliminary fixtures, zonal matches and knockout stages.
The tournament, which seeks to promote school football development and encourage enterprise through sports, will officially commence at St. Patrick’s College, Asaba.
The organisers’ calendar indicates that the competition will feature participating schools from across the state, with qualification progressing from local government area contests to zonal matches and the final knockout rounds.
The registration of schools, which commenced on September 15, will close on Friday, September 25, while a press briefing is scheduled for Monday, September 28, at the Ministry Conference Hall, Asaba, at 10:00 a.m.
The briefing is expected to precede the official opening ceremony and provide an opportunity for stakeholders to receive information ahead of the tournament.
Following the official kick-off, preliminary matches and screening of Local Government Area finalists will hold from October 2 to October 16, across local government areas in the state.
The fixtures are scheduled to commence at 2:00 p.m. daily, with participating schools seeking to secure qualification for the zonal phase.
The zonal matches will subsequently take place on October 20 and 21 at eight designated venues across Delta State, with matches scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
The tournament will enter its decisive phase with the quarter-final fixtures slated for October 23 at four designated venues, determined by the locations of the qualified schools.
The semi-final matches are scheduled for October 27 at two designated venues, with the successful teams advancing to the final.
Meanwhile,the iconic Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, has been designated as the venue for the concluding matches of the competition on Thursday, November 5.
The third-place match will kick off at 9:00 a.m., while the final match and closing ceremony are scheduled for 12:00 noon.
The championship decider will bring together the two surviving teams from the knockout stage, as they compete for the tournament’s ultimate honours.
With the slogan, “…celebrating soccer, encouraging enterprise,” the Zenith Bank Delta Principals’ Cup is positioned as a platform for promoting competitive school football and providing young players with opportunities to develop their sporting abilities.