₦5m Prize Pool as Mobil Naija Cup 2026 Kicks Off Nationwide

₦5m Prize Pool as Mobil Naija Cup 2026 Kicks Off Nationwide

By Admin 

The inaugural edition of the Mobil Naija Cup 2026 is set to kick off, marking a significant milestone in grassroots football development in Nigeria. The Under-16 tournament is designed to identify, nurture, and showcase emerging football talents from across the country, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

With a prize pool exceeding ₦5 million, nine youth teams will compete for top honours in what organizers describe as a strategic platform for long-term talent discovery and development.

The competition is packaged by Inspire Sports Academy with the backing of Mobil, a leading brand in motor oil, lubricants, and petroleum products. The initiative forms part of Mobil’s corporate social responsibility programme aimed at youth empowerment and sustainable sports development.

Beyond financial incentives, the tournament offers participating players exposure to professional pathways within and outside Nigeria. According to the Head of Inspire Sports Academy and Mobil Naija Cup Coordinator, Mr. Francis Ogette, the initiative is structured to complement existing football development efforts.

“Mobil is organizing this tournament as a way of giving back to society and contributing meaningfully to talent discovery. Nigeria is blessed with abundant football talent, and initiatives like this help bridge the gap, as government efforts alone are not sufficient,” Ogette said.

He further disclosed that exceptional players identified during the competition may earn opportunities to join Inspire Sports Academy, subject to agreements with their parent clubs. In addition, the tournament champions will be supported to participate in the next edition of the Gothia Cup, one of the world’s largest youth football tournaments.

Described as an annual event, the Mobil Naija Cup is expected to expand in subsequent editions, with organizers already projecting a bigger second edition in 2027.

Tournament Structure

The competition will begin with zonal playoffs across five major cities from March 2 to March 18, 2026. The host cities include Lagos, Enugu, Benin City, Akure, and Ilorin.

Teams emerging from the zonal qualifiers will advance to the National Finals scheduled for March 26–28, 2026, at the Inspire Sports Arena.

Registration and Press Conference

Interested academies, teams, and stakeholders can obtain registration details through the designated coordinators.

To provide further clarity on tournament structure, sponsorship framework, scouting opportunities, and technical guidelines, organizers have scheduled a press conference for Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Inspire College, Oshodi, Lagos, by 12:00 PM. Members of the media and key stakeholders in grassroots football development are expected to attend.