The prestigious Milo U-13 Champions League made a grand return after a five-year hiatus, with more than 100,000 schoolchildren from all 16 regions set to battle for regional and national honours.

Organised by Nestlé Ghana Ltd. in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service and endorsed by the Ghana Football Association, this year’s edition will feature players aged 9 to 13 showcasing their talents while representing their regions.

The championship will unfold in three phases: District, Zonal, and the National Finals.

Sixteen schools will advance from the Zonal Playoffs to the National Finals, where over 20,000 young footballers are expected to compete.

The national stage is scheduled for Paa Joe Park at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, from Tuesday, December 2 to Saturday, December 6, 2025.

Last Friday’s official launch at the Nestlé Ghana Headquarters in Accra was filled with nostalgia, as guests enjoyed a documentary highlighting the tournament’s memorable journey from 2016 to 2019.

The event featured spirited jama sessions, solidarity messages, speeches, the unveiling of a refreshed competition logo, and the presentation of the trophy donated by Ghanaian football legend Abedi Ayew Pele.

A standout moment was the introduction of the 2025 tournament ambassadors—former Black Stars captains Stephen Appiah and André “Dede” Ayew.

Both expressed delight at the opportunity to inspire and mentor the next generation throughout the competition.

The launch venue also featured a legacy wall with photo galleries from past tournaments and a trophy tunnel for fan and media engagements.

Dignitaries present included the General Manager of Nestlé Ghana, Salomé Azevedo; Category Manager, Myron Otoo; Director of Pre-Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education, Nana Baffuor Awuah; Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Prof. Smile Gavua Dzisi; Chief Director of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, Wilhelmina Asamoah; Nestlé Ghana’s Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Deborah Kwabla; President of Ghana Athletics, Bawa Fuseini; and Ministry of Sports PRO, Bagbara Tanko, with his deputy, Samuel Kussi Tetteh.

Brand icon for the 2025 edition, André “Dede” Ayew, expressed deep gratitude and pride at his appointment, describing the tournament as a powerful platform that shapes dreams, builds confidence, and nurtures promising footballers.

He commended Nestlé Ghana and the Ghana Education Service for their unwavering dedication to youth development and hailed Stephen Appiah 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,” he said.

Ayew encouraged the young participants to embrace discipline, hard work, respect, teamwork, and self-belief—qualities he believes are essential to their growth both on and off the pitch.

He urged them to play with confidence, enjoy the experience, learn from challenges, and pursue their dreams with determination.

He called for the 2025 edition to be a celebration of talent, unity, and the spirit of Ghanaian football, expressing excitement to witness the children’s brilliance.

Nestlé Ghana Managing Director, Salomé Azevedo, reaffirmed the company’s long-standing commitment to harnessing the power of sports, particularly football, to positively shape young lives.

She emphasised that football instils teamwork, discipline, confidence, and invaluable life skills.

Azevedo highlighted Nestlé’s more than two-decade partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation in promoting grassroots sports.

She praised the tournament for unearthing talents such as Abdul Majeed Waris, Fatawu Issahaku, and Kelvin Nkrumah, and expressed hope that this year’s edition will reveal the next generation of stars.

Addressing participating students, she encouraged them to enjoy the game, balance sports with their education, and allow their passion to guide their journey.

Category Manager, Myron Otoo, underscored the transformative impact of sports in building discipline, resilience, determination, and lifelong success among young people—values strongly aligned with the essence of MILO.

He noted that the Milo U-13 League complements the broader Milo Building Champs programme, which has already reached 1.9 million schoolchildren in 2025 by promoting active lifestyles and inclusive sports participation.

“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,” he said.

Mr Otoo reaffirmed Nestlé’s belief in combining good nutrition with active living to help children grow into strong, responsible individuals before officially welcoming all stakeholders to the 2025 tournament launch.