By Ikenna Nwokedi 

The third edition of the 2024 Onitsha Unity Cup Under-17 championship will kickoff on Wednesday, November 27th, 2024 at the Godwin Achebe Stadium Onitsha with the opening match between All Stars FC versus Olive Charles FA.

The football fiesta which is being bankrolled by Onitsha Ex-Footballers in Disapora (ONEFID) will feature eight teams vying for honours from November 27th, 2024 to January 8th, 2025.

The outcome of the draws ceremony which was made public by the competition's Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Chairman, Emeka Raphael (Sarafi) disclosed that the venues for this year's football Championship are Godwin Achebe Stadium and Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium all domiciled in Onitsha.

All Stars FC, Olive Charles FA, Okagbue FC and Ozalla FA are drawn in Group A while Group B is comprising of Michael FC, Terich FC, Pagis FA and Success FC. This season will see the winner smile home with the sum of N1Million while the second, third and fourth placed teams will each go home with the sum of N500,000; N300,000 and 100,000 respectively.

The last edition was won by Mourinho FC who saw off Michael FC 5-4 via penalty shootouts in the grand finale played on Sunday, 7th January 2024 at the Godwin Achebe Stadium Onitsha after a pulsating 90 minutes of action which ended 1-1.

According to the Chairman of ONEFID, Nkemakonam Jideofor Nwonwu popularly known as 'Olman', this season's episode is revamped and remodelled as the competition will be for Under-17 Category of footballers for clubs in Onitsha and beyond.

Nwonwu informed that the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) under the leadership of former Rangers Int'l FC Star, Emeka Raphael will ensure the competition maintain its standards in line with FIFA ethos and tenets of the game. 

The football administrator also revealed that there will be local and international football scouts on ground during the course of the competition to spot amazing talents with a view to taking them abroad for professional football career.