At final of Mankon Unity Cup: Fo Angwafo IV urges parents to send children to school.

 He has warned that any attempt to keep children away from classrooms amounts to working against their future.

He made the call on at the Mankon Plaza Field on Sunday, September 6, during the final of the 14th edition of the Mankon Unity Cup.   

Fon Angwafo IV presided over the final in the presence of traditional rulers amongst them his HRH Musi Waa Tenghefeng of Nipanimekyne Pinyin, HRH Fon Afungchwi III of Bambili and His Royal Majesty Fon Forchesiri III of Bamendakwe.  

Also in attendance were community leaders, elite, collaborators, football enthusiasts, and thousands of residents. 

Speaking after the final, Fon Angwafo IV described education as the foundation of life. He added that the development of Mankon ultimately rests with its children, which explains why their education is paramount. 

“Let each and every one hold your child's hand to school,” the Fon told the population. He further urged parents and community members to ensure that no child in Mankon is left behind as schools reopened on Monday, September 7. 

The Paramount Fon said the youth themselves had demonstrated during the tournament that they wanted to return to school and take responsibility for the future of their community.

He said the years of crisis had created a serious setback for education but insisted that the community could not afford to continue promoting illiteracy.

“We cannot promote illiteracy,” he said, stressing that many of the country's accomplished professionals and people holding important positions at home and abroad had built their futures through education.

The Fon also appealed to parents and Mankon elite to go beyond simply sending children to school by accompanying them and following up on their education.

He said elites had already decided to support younger members of the community with school fees and learning materials, while the various quarters of Mankon were using community activities to encourage school resumption.

Fon leads fight against drugs

Beyond education and peace, the tournament also became a platform for addressing drug among young people.

The Paramount Fon said drug abuse had become a growing concern in communities affected by prolonged crises and that Mankon had identified the problem as one requiring sustained intervention.

He said the tournament was being used to bring young people together while providing an opportunity to address the risks associated with drug consumption.

The Fon disclosed plans to work with Mankon elite and partners abroad to acquire equipment capable of testing drug use among players in future editions.

The gathering was further marked by traditional dances, masquerade performances and a presentation by the Forest Children led by rising artist Jato Sonita.

Enter organisers 

The organiser of the Mankon Unity Cup, Prince Muma Angwafo, said the tournament was conceived as a vehicle for bringing the community together at a time when social divisions and the prolonged crisis had placed enormous pressure on young people.

He said the 2026 edition had demonstrated the power of collective action, with people from different political, religious and social backgrounds gathering around a common community platform.

Mankon, he noted, is a cosmopolitan community where people of different political parties, religions and backgrounds live together.

His appeal was therefore for residents and those living in Mankon to respect the laws and traditions of the community and take responsibility for rebuilding its future.

Prince Muma also made a direct appeal for children to return to school, saying the community's educational foundation had suffered severely during the crisis.

“For 10 years we have been at home,” he said, calling on those advocating continued disruption to allow the younger generation an opportunity to rebuild their lives through education.

He pointed to strong academic performances by some Mankon students despite the crisis as evidence of what could be achieved when children are given the opportunity to learn.

Prince Muma said the community was looking to identify promising children and provide them with school fees and didactic materials, with support from Mankon elite around the world.

The objective, he said, is to ensure that today's children become tomorrow's doctors, engineers and other professionals capable of transforming the community.

Shockers FC cement dominance 

Shockers FC of Mile 7 was crowned champions of the 2026 Mankon Unity Cup. They achieved the feat after narrowly edging their rivals Alakuma FC 1-0 in the men's final to lift the coveted trophy. 

The victory means the trophy returns to Mile 7 for the third consecutive year, extending Shockers FC's dominance of the competition. The narrow scoreline reflected a closely contested final in which a single goal was enough to separate the two sides.

While Alakuma FC ended the campaign without the trophy, their presence in the final and their anti-drug message formed part of the wider community purpose attached to the competition.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3905 of Thursday September 10, 2026