Milo U-13 Champions League returns after five-year break
The prestigious Milo U-13 Champions League is back after a five-year hiatus, with more than 100,000 schoolchildren across all 16 regions set to compete for regional and national honours.
Organised by Nestlé Ghana Ltd. in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service and endorsed by the Ghana Football Association, the tournament will feature players aged 9 to 13 representing their regions in a bid to showcase their talent and teamwork.
The championship will be held in three phases — District, Zonal and the National Finals. Top 16 schools from the Zonal Playoffs will compete in the National Finals, with over 20,000 children expected to participate.
The national stage is scheduled for Paa Joe Park at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, from Tuesday, December 2 to Saturday, December 6, 2025.
Memorable launch
The official launch, held at the Nestlé Ghana Headquarters in Accra last Friday, was filled with nostalgia as guests enjoyed documentary highlights chronicling the Milo Champions League journey from 2016 to 2019, when the competition last took place.
Accompanied by spirited jama sessions, the event featured speeches, solidarity messages, the unveiling of the new competition logo, and the presentation of the trophy to be contested, which was donated by Ghanaian football legend, Abedi Ayew Pele.
A major highlight was the introduction of the ambassadors for the 2025 edition—former Black Stars captains Stephen Appiah and André “Dede” Ayew, who in separate remarks expressed delight at the opportunity to inspire and mentor the young players throughout the competition.
Adding to the atmosphere, organisers created a legacy wall showcasing photo galleries from past tournaments and a trophy tunnel designed for photo opportunities and media interviews.
Among those in attendance were the General Manager of Nestlé Ghana, Salome Azevedo; Category Manager, Myron Otoo; Director of Pre-Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education, Nana Baffuor Awuah; Deputy Director-General, Ghana Education Service, Prof. Smile Gavua Dzisi;
Also present were Chief Director of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, Wilhelmina Asamoah; Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Manager for Nestlé Ghana, Deborah Kwabla; President of Ghana Athletics, Bawa Fuseini; Ministry of Sports PRO, Bagbara Tanko and his Deputy, Samuel Kussi Tetteh.
Youth development
André “Dede” Ayew expressed gratitude and pride at being named a brand icon for the 2025 Milo U-13 Champions League, describing the tournament as a vital platform for shaping dreams, building confidence, and nurturing young football talent across Ghana.
He praised Nestlé Ghana and the Ghana Education Service for their commitment to youth development and lauded Stephen Appiah, his fellow ambassador, as a mentor and inspiration.
"I am truly humbled to join you today as the brand Icon for the 2025 edition of the MILO Under 13 Champions League."
"This tournament is more than a competition; it is a platform that has shaped dreams, discovered stars and built confidence in many young talents across Ghana. For that, I want to commend Nestlé Ghana and the Ghana Education Service for their unwavering commitment to nurturing youth development through sports," hen said.
Addressing the young players, Ayew encouraged them to embrace discipline, hard work, respect, teamwork, and self-belief—values that shaped his own football journey. He urged them to play with confidence, enjoy the experience, learn from challenges and pursue their dreams without limitation.
He concluded by calling for the 2025 tournament to be a celebration of talent, unity and the spirit of Ghanaian football, expressing excitement to witness the young players’ greatness on the pitch.
Commitment
Nestlé Ghana MD, Salomé Azevedo highlighted Nestlé Ghana’s long-standing commitment to using sports—especially football—to positively shape the lives of young people.
She emphasized football’s power to build teamwork, discipline, confidence, and lifelong skills beyond the pitch.
Azevedo noted Nestlé’s more than 20-year partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation in promoting grassroots sports.
She celebrated the tournament’s role in discovering major talents such as Abdul Majeed Waris, Fatawu Issahaku, and Kelvin Nkrumah, affirming Nestlé’s enthusiasm for unearthing the next generation of stars.
She expressed gratitude to government and institutional partners for their collaboration in strengthening youth development.
"Nestlé Ghana believes in the transformative power of sports in shaping young lives. For over 20 years, we have proudly partnered with the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation to discover and nurture the talents of school children."
"The MILO Under-13 Champions League is an exciting annual grassroot football, proudly sponsored by Nestlé through its brand, MILO. The main goal of this tournament is to unearth talent among basic school students through sport, while also promoting essential skills such as teamwork, discipline, and a healthy lifestyle," she said.
Addressing the participating children, she encouraged them to enjoy the game, complement football with their education, and let their passion shine.
Ms Azevedo concluded by wishing all schools success and hoping the tournament produces unforgettable memories.
Transformative role
Category Manger, Myron Otoo emphasized that sport plays a transformative role in shaping discipline, resilience, determination, and lifelong success among young people—values that align with the core essence of MILO.
He also noted that the MILO U-13 League complements the broader MILO Building Champs programme, which has already reached 1.9 million schoolchildren in 2025, promoting active lifestyles and inclusive sports participation.
Mr Otoo concluded by reaffirming Nestlé’s belief in pairing good nutrition with active living to help children grow into strong, responsible individuals—before officially welcoming everyone to enjoy the launch of the 2025 tournament.
"MILO believes that the growth and well-being of children rely not only on adequate nutrition but also on empowering them to stay active and live out strong values - respect, teamwork, determination, and perseverance."
"These values are at the heart of who we are and perfectly captures MILO's essence-"Nourishing kids journey to success and inspiring them through sports," he said.
