By Katsina Times Sports Desk

The Katsina Football Academy (KFA) has congratulated five of its standout players who have been selected by Katsina United Football Club ahead of the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.

The players — Umar Yusuf, Nasir Ahmed, Hassan Abubakar, Kabir Muhammad Kabir, and Usman Abdullahi — were chosen to join the state’s premier team in a move widely celebrated by the academy as a major achievement.

In a statement signed by the Academy's Sporting Director, Shamsuddeen Ibrahim, and made available to the press on Monday, the selection was described as a significant milestone for the academy in its mission to develop young football talent in the state.

Shamsuddeen expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the selected players, urging them to maintain discipline, dedication, and resilience as they embark on this new chapter of their football journey. He further encouraged them to uphold the values of professionalism and sportsmanship on and off the pitch.

The Academy also extended its appreciation to the management of Katsina United FC for recognizing and recruiting talent from within the state’s grassroots system.

According to Shamsuddeen, the achievements recorded by the Academy so far have been made possible through the unwavering support of Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, PhD, CON, and the dynamic leadership of the Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Aliyu Lawal Zakari Shargalle.

He reiterated the Academy’s commitment to producing more talented players and revealed that efforts are ongoing to secure additional contracts for players with both domestic and international clubs.

“The journey is just beginning. We’re proud of these players and confident there’s still more to come,” Shamsuddeen concluded.