Making of Champions (MoC) is pleased to announce that MTN is returning as the Title Sponsor of the exciting Schools’ Athletics Championships, MTN CHAMPS, for Season 2. The first edition of CHAMPS was held across 4 cities: Benin, Uyo, Ibadan and Abuja from October to December 2023, with over 7,000 Athletes and 400 Schools registering across Cadet (U14), Youth (U17) & Junior (U20) age groups.
Season 2 of MTN CHAMPS is returning with some changes and innovations, starting with the locations of the championships. Only one location from 2023 has been retained for 2024 (Ibadan), while the cities of Asaba, Kaduna and Port Harcourt will get to experience the excitement of hosting MTN CHAMPS for the first time. Also, unlike Season 1 that featured three age categories, the senior category (20 and above) has been introduced to Season 2 to cater to adults who may be in school, university, club, state, national or unattached Athletes, taking the age categories of CHAMPS to 4.
MoC is once again partnering with Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF) as the Official Schools’ Partner of MTN CHAMPS, to ensure the widespread access and participation of schools and their students across all 4 host cities of MTN CHAMPS.
In addition, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) will continue as Official Technical Partner of CHAMPS to ensure that all races are electronically timed and all results are ratified for global recognition by World Athletics. In fact, in a historic partnership and agreement with the AFN, the first leg of CHAMPS Season 2 set to hold in Asaba, the Delta State capital, will be used as the National Trials for the forthcoming African Games!
As such, MTN CHAMPS is inviting at least 100 Junior & Senior Secondary Schools in each CHAMPS city to each register up to 10 Athletes who can each select 3 individual Athletics events, from which they will also select their 4x100m relay teams. Mixed schools can apply twice: once for the Boys’ team of 10 and one for the Girls’ team of 10. In addition, Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary Schools should also register separately in the Cadet & Youth categories respectively.
An estimated 2,000 Athletes will contest each of the events – Up to 1,500 Youth & Cadets from over 100 Secondary Schools, while 500 Seniors & Juniors can enter either individually or in Teams of up to 20 Athletes who can also each enter 3 individual Athletics events. Each Junior Team may also enter Boys’ & Girls’ 4x100m and Mixed 4x400m Relays, but only using the 20 Athletes they have registered.
Online registration has now opened across all four locations at http://mtnchamps.com/registration – Is your School/Team the best in Athletics in your city? There’s only one way to find out! To enter, a recognized official of your School or Team, e.g. Principal, Games Master, PE Teacher, Athletics Coach or Captain must register your Schools’ Entries before the registration deadline for each venue.
(Senior Athletes for the MTN CHAMPS / AFN National Trials in Asaba must also all register via the online link above as well as emailing the AFN at [email protected] with the same details to confirm their registration for Asaba, with the final Entry List of Seniors Athletes subject to standards set by AFN for the National Trials, and to be announced after the registration deadline (by Thu 15th February).
MTN CHAMPS Season 2 Locations & Dates
- MTN CHAMPS Asaba / AFN National Trials: Sat 17th–Wed 21st February ’24 (Registration deadline: Wed 14th February)
- MTN CHAMPS Kaduna: Tue 5th–Fri 8th March ’24 (Registration deadline: Wed 28th March)
- MTN CHAMPS Ibadan: Tue 26th–Fri 29th March ’24 (Registration deadline: Wed 20th March)
- MTN CHAMPS Port Harcourt / Grand Final: Tue 23rd Apr–Fri 26th Apr ’24 (Registration deadline: Wed 17th April)
Age Groups & Event List for MTN CHAMPS Season 2 (2024)
- Cadet (U14) – Born in 2011 or later AND must be in Junior Secondary School (JS 1-3)
- Youth (U17) – Born in 2008 or later AND in Senior Secondary School (SS 1-3), OR they can also be JSS Students of the same school who are born between 2008 & 2010
- Junior (U20) – Born in 2005 or later (can be in school, university, other team or unattached)
- Senior – no age restrictions
Cadet (U14) – 12 events (5 individual & 1 relay each for Boys & Girls)
- 4 Track events (100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m)
- 2 Field events (Long Jump & High Jump)
Youth (U17) – 20 events (9 individual & 1 relay each for Boys & Girls)
- 5 Track events (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 4x100m)
- 5 Field events (Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, Shot Put and Discus)
Junior (U20) – 29 events (13 individual & 1 relay each for Boys & Girls and Mixed 4x400m)
- 9 Track events (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 100/110mH, 400mH, 4x100m for Boys & Girls and Mixed 4x400m which is 2 Boys and 2 Girls per team)
- 6 Field events (Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, Shot Put, Discus & Javelin)
Senior (no age restrictions) – No. of Events to be decided prior to each Event (38 events for MTN CHAMPS Asaba / AFN National Trials – 19 each for Men & Women)
- 11 Track (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5,000m, 10,000m, 20km Race Walk, 3000m Steeplechase, 100m/110mH Hurdles, 400m Hurdles)
- 8 Field events (Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump & Pole Vault, Shot Put, Discus, Javelin & Hammer Throw)
After the registration deadline for each city, MTN CHAMPS will announce the final Entry List of Schools & Athletes at least 3 days before each Event, and all Schools, Teams and/or Athletes must reconfirm their participation by collecting their competition bibs no later than 1-2 days prior at each venue. Entries in the Senior Category will only be accepted from established Athletes with World Athletics profiles who meet the standards that will be set in the Senior Category at each event.
Do email [email protected] for any enquiries and we look forward to the widespread participation of Secondary School, Junior and Senior Athletes in all 4 cities for MTN CHAMPS Season 2 as we provide a platform the nation’s biggest national athletics talent search in history, as well as for Nigeria’s best Athletes to qualify for the African Games in March and the Paris 2024 Olympics!
Kind regards,
Deji Ogeyingbo
Country Manager, Making of Champions Ltd
