13th July, 2012
The 2012 Airtel Rising Stars Season 2, ARS 2, national finals hold at the Agege Stadium in Lagos from Friday, 13 to Sunday, 15 July, 2012.
A total of 16 matches will be played within the three days, with finals for the male and female teams slated for Sunday.
The Technical Official of Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria, YSFON, Abdulgafar Adegbola, who supervised the draws held at the Zen Garden in GRA, Ikeja, Lagos yesterday, said all the players featuring in both male and female categories would be screened before all their matches.
The Lagos team opened the quarter final game in the girls category against South East team from Owerri early Friday, while Edo and South West exchanged tackles same day. The other two quarter finals will feature the South South against Plateau, and an all northern clash between Kano and Kaduna.
In the male category, hosts, Lagos team battle Plateau this afternoon, Edo will engage Kano, while the South South team tango with the South East team. The last quarter final of the day holds between South West and Kaduna.
The semi finals of both categories are slated for Saturday, while the grand finale takes place from 3p.m. on Sunday.
Unlike the maiden edition, the ARS 2 was staged in a league format with activations over six stages, which included intra-state, inter-state championship, zonal elimination, national tournament, inter-country camp and national tour.
Meanwhile, organisers of the competition say renowned Rhythm and Blues artiste, 2face, Innocent Idibia, will lead other artistes to provide live musical entertainment, fun and excitement at the three-day national finals.