BY RAYMOND NWADUBA 

*The Legends Cup and Ignite Soccer Tournament - Season 2*, both organized by Ignite Megastars, took place simultaneously at the Legacy Pitch in Surulere, Lagos, from May 3rd to 6th 2025.

While the Ignite Soccer Tournament is designed to spotlight individual athletes and give them a platform to showcase their skills, the Legends Cup is tailored for young players already training with local clubs but lacking sufficient international exposure.

The Ignite Soccer Tournament which began with auditions a month prior, where around 250 players competed before a panel of former international footballers and top-tier coaches, have now selected from this pool, 40 standout talents to participate in this tournament. These players had the opportunity to perform in front of fans and European scouts, who would then vote on the top prospects, for potential scholarships and professional development opportunities abroad.

Meanwhile, the Legends Cup featured eight competitive teams: FC Bethel Sporting, Team360 FC, Box 2 Box FC, Charlesann FC, Oasis FC, Soliz FC, Athletic SC, and FIMA FC. All teams competed in the four-day tournament, with the goal of not just winning the trophy but also impressing European scouts invited by Ignite Megastars to identify players suitable for international transfers. Two additional teams—36 Lion FC and Goalgetters FC—participated as guest teams.
Box 2 Box FC emerged victorious in the 2025 Legends Cup, defeating Charlesann FC 2-0 in the final match held on Tuesday at the Legacy Pitch.
Following the event, Ozavize Daniyan, founder of Ignite Megastars, expressed heartfelt gratitude to God for the successful execution of the tournament. She applauded all participating teams for their impressive performances and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to continuing the tournaments, by God’s grace. Daniyan emphasized that Ignite Megastars remains dedicated to bridging the gap between local talent and international football opportunities by providing greater visibility for emerging athletes.

Box 2 Box FC’s coach, Randy Reuben, celebrated his team’s resilience and determination throughout the competition, especially in the face of strong opponents. He also expressed gratitude to the organizers for providing a platform for young talents to shine and thanked his club management for their unwavering support.
Charlesann FC’s chairman, Charles Philip Okiemute congratulated the winners but attributed his team’s defeat to fatigue, noting that they had played several matches in recent weeks.
The European scouts in attendance lauded the quality of talent showcased during the event and confirmed that they had selected a number of promising players for trials with clubs in Europe.
There was also an exciting showcase match featuring youngsters from the Ignite Soccer Tournament, who faced off against the junior team of FC Bethel Sporting and secured a 2-0 victory against them.