A total prize pool of ₦5 million is up for grabs as 150 youth teams gear up to compete in the maiden edition of the Mobil Naija Cup, which kicks off on March 2 at the Inspire Sports Academy Pitch, Cappa, Lagos.

 

The tournament, designed for players in the U-16 category, will feature teams drawn from five zones — Lagos, Akure, Benin, Ilorin, and Enugu — showcasing some of Nigeria’s brightest emerging football talents.

 

Speaking during the Lagos Zonal draw on Saturday, Chairman of the Organising Committee and Head of Inspire Sports Academy, Francis Ogette, described the competition as a platform aimed at nurturing grassroots talent and promoting competitive youth football.

 

“The Mobil Naija Cup promises to be an exciting, action-filled tournament showcasing emerging football talent in the U-16 category,” Ogette said. “The first stage of the tournament, which will be played in a knockout format, involves 150 youth teams representing top talents from different zones.”

 

According to him, the zonal playoffs across the five regions will determine nine teams for the National Finals, with Lagos producing four representatives, while the remaining four zones will each produce one team.

 

“It’s a winner-takes-all competition designed to be competitive and thrilling. The Organising Committee has also implemented mechanisms to prevent age cheating, as the tournament strictly caters to players within the U-16 age bracket,” he added.

 

The Lagos Zone draw, which featured 35 teams, produced an exciting opening fixture as Telu from Iwo, Osun State, will face Olympique Lagos FA in the first match of the zonal playoffs on March 2.

 

Representatives of the tournament sponsors emphasized the broader developmental goals of the competition. Goriola Oladapo, Distribution Business Consultant, and Olarewaju Ayonniyi, Field Marketing Advisor, stressed the importance of grassroots football in national development.

 

“Grassroots football is vital for development. Our goal is to make the Mobil Naija Cup a source of pride for all Nigerians. The tournament aims to identify and nurture emerging talents, potentially producing future stars like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman,” they said.

 

They added that the championship also serves as a platform to engage the youth, instilling values of fair play, discipline, and leadership.

 

Head of the Local Organising Committee and former assistant coach of Shooting Stars S.C., Popoola Yinka (Gullit), explained why the tournament will begin with a knockout format.

 

“After reaching 150 teams in collaboration with the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YUSFON), we recognized the importance of starting the Mobil Naija Cup with the best possible format to manage the large number of participating teams across the five zones,” he said.

 

He noted that while the zonal stage will be played in a knockout format, the National Playoffs will feature a group phase, culminating in the grand finale scheduled for March 25, 26, and 28.

 

With excitement building ahead of kickoff, the Mobil Naija Cup is poised to become a significant platform for discovering and developing the next generation of Nigerian football stars.