Lagos State MiniFootball League: 30 teams battle for N4.5million

Lagos State MiniFootball League: 30 teams battle for N4.5million

Ibrahim Lateef

Hon. Abdul-Ganiyu Vinod Obasa, Chairman of the Lagos State MiniFootball Association has informed that showcasing the sport at the community level is a top priority, as 30 grassroot teams, comprising 20 male and 10 female teams, will kick off the maiden season on August 1, reports BSNSports.com.ng.

The Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government informed sports journalists in a news parley ahead of Friday's exhibition and celebrity novelty match at the newly constructed Mini Football Pitch in Keke Primary School, Agege.

"The month of August will be huge for us and the sport, as we intend to promote the Mini Football League among young talents in the Agege community. Interestingly, it's a sport played almost daily by many.

 "There are numerous pros to mini football; players can showcase their talents and improve their technical skills within a small playing area.

"Our main goal is to develop sports in Lagos, and Agege Local Government is determined to extend the sport’s reach beyond the community.

"We plan to select a squad to represent Nigeria at the Mini Football AFCON (women’s edition) in September, to be hosted by Cameroon. The scouting process began last weekend, and this momentum will continue to build."

Sheriff Tajudeen, Vice-Chairman of the Lagos Mini Football Association and a member of the national body, stated that: "Agege is hosting the inaugural event, as Lagos State is a key hub for sports in Nigeria.

"Mini Football, a 6 vs 6 game played on a small pitch with different rules from traditional football, is gaining popularity worldwide. Nigeria is keen to tap into this growth.

"The current tournament has no age restrictions and will feature in three venues in Agege and Orile-Agege, hosting matches simultaneously on weekends for four weeks.

 "The 20 male teams are divided into groups A and B, playing nine matches each across two centres, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The 10 female teams will compete at a single venue.

 "A total prize of #3 million for the male winners and #1.5 million for the female winners has been allocated."

Tajudeen highlighted that the event will showcase emerging talents and serve as a platform to engage youth, educate them about the sport's rules, and foster community involvement.

Currently, eleven Nigerian states are participating, with plans for all 36 states to join by the end of 2026.