1xCUP: How Grassroots Football Is Opening Doors for Young Nigerian Players - THISDAYLIVE

What began in 2023 as a grassroots football competition with a N1 million top prize has grown into a tournament offering young Nigerian players an avenue to compete, gain visibility and pursue professional careers.

The latest edition of the 1xCUP reached another stage on Friday when 24 teams that emerged from a qualifying process involving 100 grassroots sides were drawn into six groups at The Providence Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

The 2026 competition will begin its group-stage matches on September 15 and run until October 8, with the final scheduled for October 31 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.

The winner will receive N10 million from a total prize pool of N20 million, while the second- and third-placed teams will receive N5 million and N3 million respectively.

For the organisers, however, the tournament’s significance extends beyond its financial rewards, with the competition increasingly being positioned as a platform for exposing grassroots players to scouts, clubs and other stakeholders in professional football.

The General Manager of 1xCUP Nigeria, Dimeji Adedapo, said the competition was established in 2023 as an initiative through which 1xBet could contribute to the communities in which it operates.

“This competition started in 2023 as an experiment by the brand 1xBet, and it is an answer to: what can we give back to the society where we operate?” Adedapo said.

He said the tournament had since provided opportunities for players who might otherwise struggle to gain exposure to professional football.

“We have over 30 players that have played in the 1xCUP playing in the professional league, either in Nigeria, Africa or Europe. For us, it has been a success,” he said.

The competition has also expanded considerably since its inaugural edition. The first tournament carried a N1 million grand prize, with teams travelling across locations including Ikorodu, Epe, Badagry and Oshodi. Shomolu Bariga FC emerged as the inaugural champions.

According to Adedapo, the organisers increased the prize pool to N20 million in 2024 following the response to the first edition and the performances of the participating players.

The tournament also recognises individual performances, with awards for the Most Valuable Player, highest goal scorer, best goalkeeper and best coach. The organisers also recognise the most disciplined team as part of efforts to encourage sportsmanship.

The 2026 edition attracted 100 teams during the qualification stage, with 24 advancing to the group phase.

The teams were drawn into six groups of four. Group A comprises Vido SC, Emiloju FC, JP Young Stars FC and BYT Academicals FC, while Group B features NewHope Naija FC, Divine Praise FC, Kiraa FA and Crusaders FC.

Group C has Ajuwa FC, Tonic FC, Joy Cometh FC and Mega 22 FC. Group D comprises 36 Lions, Ighalo Football Academy, Maryland United FC and Crystal FC.

In Group E are Inspire Sports Academy, Young Strikers FC, Dynamic FC and AMA Smile FC, while Group F contains Collins Edwin Sports Club, ECAs FC, Elite Stars FC and AUX FC.

The top two teams in each group will advance automatically to the knockout stage, alongside the four best third-placed teams, producing a 16-team knockout field.

Beyond the matches, the organisers have also focused on creating digital content that could help grassroots players gain wider exposure.

Adedapo said a major challenge for young players seeking professional opportunities was the lack of quality footage that could be presented to scouts and clubs.

“We know that many of these young talents and grassroots football teams, when there’s an opportunity to sell their players, don’t have what to show to scouts,” he said.

“But when you go to the 1xCUP Nigeria Bet YouTube platform, you can pick a lot of clips. We even do individual clips for fantastic players.”

The approach reflects the growing role of digital platforms in football scouting, where video footage can provide clubs with an opportunity to assess players beyond traditional scouting networks.

However, Adedapo said the competition also faced logistical challenges, particularly during the qualification stage, which ran from July 23 to September 4.

He said 100 teams played within a 20-day period, creating logistical demands involving venues, match officials, transportation and production.

He also expressed concern over instances in which participating teams arrived late or failed to field sufficient players despite receiving their fixtures in advance.

“It is not encouraging. Teams should realise that the only thing they can give back to us in the competition is their cooperation,” he said.

Adedapo noted that participation in the tournament was free, adding that the organisers did not charge registration fees.

“It is a 100 per cent free competition. We are not taking registration fees from anyone,” he said.

He urged the 24 teams that qualified for the group stage to observe the competition’s rules and schedules and make effective use of the opportunity provided by the tournament.

The draw ceremony was attended by representatives of the football and sports sectors, including former Nigerian international Mutiu Adepoju, who is a 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner, 1996 Olympic gold medallist and LaLiga Ambassador.

Others included sports veteran Dimeji Lawal; sports analyst and grassroots football advocate, Biola Kazeem; Jubril Gawat, representing the Lagos State Governor’s Office in New Media/Digital Media; Alabi Opeyemi, representing youth affairs; Folorunsho Michael, representing the Sustainable Development Goals; and Sandra Omoniyi, League Commissioner at Lagos Liga and Founder of Asem Sport Management.

The Managing Director of 1xBet Nigeria, Geraldine Ibeanusi, congratulated the teams that emerged from the qualification stage and urged them to approach the competition with discipline and respect for their opponents.

For the young players involved, the tournament represents an opportunity to compete at a higher level and attract attention beyond their immediate grassroots football networks.

Three years after its inaugural edition, the 1xCUP has expanded from a N1 million competition to a tournament featuring 24 group-stage teams and a N20 million prize pool, while organisers say more than 30 players who participated in the competition have gone on to play professional football.

The 2026 edition will now provide another opportunity for young players to turn grassroots experience into professional opportunities when the group-stage matches begin on September 15.

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