The 2026 Judith Chime Championship is set to provide more than just exciting football action, as African Coaches Connect (ACC) partners with the Judith Chime Foundation (JCF) to deliver a coaching development programme during this year’s tournament.
The partnership will see ACC and the Judith Chime Foundation organise a Coaching Clinic for participating coaches, alongside a dedicated Goalkeepers’ Clinic, creating an opportunity for coaches and goalkeeping personnel to gain additional knowledge, exchange ideas and strengthen their technical understanding of the game.
The initiative reflects the growing importance of combining competitive football with education and professional development, particularly at the grassroots and youth levels.
As part of the arrangements for the 2026 Judith Chime Championship, participating coaches are expected to take part in the coaching clinic organised through the partnership between African Coaches Connect and the Judith Chime Foundation.
The sessions are designed to provide coaches with an engaging learning experience while the championship is ongoing. The programme will create an avenue for coaches to learn, interact and improve their understanding of modern coaching approaches.
Attendance at the clinic will also be a prerequisite for coaches to receive their certificate of participation, making the educational component an important part of the overall championship experience.
In addition to the general coaching clinic, a special Goalkeepers’ Clinic will be organised as part of the tournament activities.
The goalkeeping session is expected to give coaches and goalkeeping personnel an opportunity to focus specifically on the unique demands of the position, including the development and training of young goalkeepers.
The inclusion of a dedicated goalkeepers’ programme is particularly significant given Judith Chime’s own history as a former Nigeria international goalkeeper.
Chime was part of the historic Super Falcons squad at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, where Nigeria reached the quarterfinals. She also represented Nigeria at the 2000 Olympic Games and the 2000 African Women's Championship, among other international assignments.
Her journey from international football to education and sports development provides an important foundation for initiatives that seek to connect football experience with knowledge development.
The collaboration between African Coaches Connect and the Judith Chime Foundation brings together two organisations with a shared interest in football development and learning.
Through the partnership, the 2026 Judith Chime Championship will serve not only as a platform for players to compete but also as an avenue for coaches to acquire knowledge that can contribute to their continued development.
For grassroots football, opportunities such as these can be particularly valuable. Coaches often play a major role in identifying talent, developing young players and shaping the footballers of tomorrow. Providing them with opportunities to learn and improve can therefore have an impact that extends beyond a single tournament.
To ensure effective planning and coordination, participating teams are expected to provide the names and number of coaches who will attend the clinic.
The information will enable the organisers to make the necessary logistical arrangements and ensure that the sessions are properly coordinated.
In a communication to participating stakeholders, Dr. Judith Chime of the Judith Chime Foundation called on coaches to cooperate with the organisers by providing the required information as soon as possible.
The organisers are looking forward to an engaging and impactful learning experience for all participating coaches.
The partnership between African Coaches Connect and the Judith Chime Foundation adds an important educational dimension to the 2026 Judith Chime Championship.
While players will compete for honours on the pitch, coaches will have the opportunity to improve their knowledge away from match action through the coaching and goalkeeping clinics.
The initiative also reinforces the message that football development is not only about producing talented players. It requires knowledgeable coaches, qualified technical personnel and continuous learning.
As December 11th 2026 for Judith Chime Championship Kick off approaches, the collaboration between ACC and JCF promises to make the tournament an experience where competition, coaching education and football development come together.
For participating coaches, the clinics will offer an opportunity to learn, connect and add to their coaching knowledge. For the championship itself, the initiative represents another step towards making the tournament a platform for broader football development.
The 2026 Judith Chime Championship will therefore be about more than the results on the scoreboard. It will also be about investing in the people who help shape the future of the game.
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