Ogun, Nigeria — A non-governmental organization, the African Girls Empowerment Network, through its Sport Girls Initiative, has concluded the 2025 phase of its community-based football match series tagged “Belle by Choice vs. Belle by Chance.” The initiative is aimed at reducing teenage and unwanted pregnancy, preventing HIV/AIDS, closing the gender gap in football, and empowering adolescents with accurate information on sexual and reproductive health and rights.
The final match took place on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Government School II Field, Sango, Ogun State. The event brought together 80 adolescent girls and 109 spectators drawn from surrounding communities, including community leaders, youth leaders, and young people.
Before kickoff, AGE Network facilitated comprehensive sexuality education and leadership sessions for participating girls. Topics covered included personal safety, healthy relationships, consent, pregnancy and HIV prevention, self-esteem, teamwork, leadership, agency, and career opportunities in football.
Coaches and match officials were also engaged in child safeguarding and protection sessions, reinforcing zero tolerance for abuse, exploitation, and discrimination against girls in sports and community spaces.
Addressing participants, the Sport Girls Programs Director, Ms. Esther Asuquo, said the initiative was designed to tackle multiple challenges facing adolescent girls.
“We want to kick out teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, and sexual exploitation among our girls in schools and communities. We urge everyone here to be Belle by Choice advocates and to support girls to speak up, seek help, and live free from abuse,” she said.
The match series featured school-to-school competitions and training sessions. In the semi-final match held on December 7, 2025, the Belle by Chance team defeated the Belle by Choice team. However, in the final match on December 13, the Belle by Choice team emerged victorious with a 4–0 scoreline.
At the close of the competition, AGE Network presented a trophy to the winning team, medals to all participants, and individual awards to outstanding and best-performing players.
The semi-final match was held on December 7, 2025, at Igbo Lawyer Field, Dalemo, and involved 73 girls from different communities and five coaches. The event attracted 135 spectators, including men, women, youths, and community leaders.
Among dignitaries present were Baale Edun, Mrs. Gbenle (Secretary), and Engr. Balogun (Chairman) of the Adelemo Community, Sango Ota. Before the match, AGE Network delivered a reproductive health education session addressing early and unprotected sex, teenage and unwanted pregnancy, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, as well as the physical and emotional impacts of abuse. Informational flyers containing Belle by Choice hotline contacts were distributed to support access to counseling and referral services.
AGE Network also engaged community leaders on the importance of male involvement in ending rape, promoting consent and respect, and supporting the sexual and reproductive health of girls and young women.
Participants and community members expressed appreciation to AGE Network and its partners, including the FIFA Foundation, for investing in the well-being of girls. Baale Edun commended the initiative and pledged community support toward eliminating sexual violence and reducing teenage pregnancy in Dalemo and the surrounding areas.
Speaking further, Ms. Asuquo reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to girls’ rights and inclusion.
“We are committed to ending rape, child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and girls’ school dropout, and to securing a level playing ground for girls in sport in Ogun State,” she said.
Through the Sport Girls Initiative and the Belle by Choice vs. Belle by Chance campaign, AGE Network continues to leverage sport as a tool to educate, protect, and empower girls, while strengthening community-led responses to gender-based violence and poor adolescent health outcomes.
For media inquiries:
African Girls Empowerment Network
Email: info@agenetwork.org
Website:www.agenetwork.org
