1xCup organisers announce new plans for 2026 tournament

Organisers of the 1xCup grassroots football tournament have shared new plans for the 2026 edition. They say the competition is becoming a way for young players to move into professional football. Many past participants have found careers in Nigeria and abroad.

At the launch of the fourth edition in Lagos on Friday, the organisers announced that 100 grassroots clubs will compete for a ₦20 million prize. They also introduced new initiatives like digital player profiles, better scouting, performance analysis, and live streaming. These steps aim to help players get noticed by professional clubs.

Since it began in 2023, the tournament has become one of Lagos' biggest grassroots football events. The organisers say that over 180 clubs and more than 5,000 players have taken part in the first three editions.

Adedapo Dimeji, the General Manager of 1xCup, explained that the goal goes beyond finding a champion. He said, "The tournament is not only about winning trophies. It is about creating opportunities."

Dimeji added, "Our vision is to provide talented young footballers with a professionally organised competition where they can showcase their abilities before scouts, clubs, football administrators and fans. We remain committed to creating a pathway from grassroots football to the professional game."

This year’s tournament will feature 100 clubs from five traditional football areas in Lagos: Agege, Lagos Island, Badagry, Ikorodu, and Epe. There will be better match organisation, more media coverage, wider scouting, and individual awards.

Dimeji mentioned that many players discovered through the tournament have moved into professional football. He highlighted some players like Kayode Akinyemi of Dosu FC and Okechukwu of FC Bethel, who moved to Egypt after being the tournament’s top scorer. Other players include Caleb Okereke, Clinton Lawani, and Peter Ayisu.

He also pointed out that two former 1xCup players recently played for Nigeria at the Unity Cup in London. He said, "These achievements reassure us that 1xCup is truly serving as a platform for discovering and developing football talent."

To strengthen this pathway, every player in the 2026 edition will have a digital profile with performance data and highlight videos. Special technical teams will monitor matches, and accredited scouts will access player reports during the tournament.

Dimeji said, "Our objective is not simply to discover one or two outstanding players. We want to create opportunities for as many deserving young footballers as possible."

Waidi Akanni, the Technical Director of 1xCup, revealed that interest in the competition is high, with nearly 800 clubs applying for the 100 spots. He said, "Every team went through a rigorous screening and verification process to ensure fairness and professionalism before the final selections were made."

The final list includes 24 clubs each from Agege and Lagos Island, 20 each from Badagry and Ikorodu, and 12 from Epe. Akanni mentioned that active professional players will not be allowed to participate to keep the grassroots nature of the tournament.

Each club will register 25 players, and they can include up to five players aged 16 to 18 to support youth development. The tournament will go on for 38 matchdays, starting with qualifying rounds and then moving to a group stage with 24 teams. The top two teams from each of the six groups, along with the four best third-placed teams, will reach the Round of 16 before the knockout phase begins.

The organisers also shared plans to start a women’s competition soon. Abiodun Babalola, the Head of Operations, said they have started talks with stakeholders in women’s grassroots football.

Babalola said, "Women’s football is definitely part of our long-term vision. We want to build it properly and ensure it meets the same high standards that 1xCup has established."

Looking beyond Lagos, Dimeji said they are talking with groups in two South-East states and one Middle Belt state to expand the tournament nationwide. He said, "Lagos alone is not Nigeria."

He added that discussions have also started with the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation for support in expanding the tournament. Dimeji's long-term goal is to grow the competition into a continental grassroots championship, similar to the Waziri Cup in Kenya.

He said, "Our vision is to take 1xCup across Nigeria and eventually across Africa, where champions from different countries can compete against one another. We believe we will achieve that goal step by step."

The fourth edition of the competition is set to start on 23 July.