Six Teams, Million Naira Prize and a Bigger Agenda for Unity as Eze Okpoko 1 League Cup Kicks Off in Lagos
….Akinsanya Mobilises Support for APC Ahead of 2027
By Naomi Onome
The maiden edition of the Eze Okpoko 1 League Cup has kicked off in Alimosho, Lagos, with the opening matches ending in goalless draws, as organisers and stakeholders used the football tournament to promote unity, grassroots sports development and youth empowerment.
The tournament, which commenced on Sunday, August 30, 2026, attracted community leaders, political office holders, football enthusiasts, players, supporters and members of the Igbo community.
Six teams—Ndi Igbo Buru’Otu, Eastern Brothers, The Legend Star, Obi Udo, Igbo Speaking and Igbo Bi Na Ije—are participating in the competition, with a total prize package of N1 million earmarked for the top three teams and other prizes.
The opening fixtures saw Ndi Igbo Buru’Otu take on The Legend Star, while Obi Udo faced Igbo Speaking. Both matches ended 0-0 after regulation time, with the teams displaying strong defensive performances.
Beyond football, the event provided a platform for discussions on community development, youth empowerment, ethnic unity and the forthcoming 2027 general elections.
Akinsanya urges massive support for APC in 2027
The Executive Chairman of Ikotun-Igando LCDA, Snr. Comrade Lasisi Ayinde Akinsanya, who performed the ceremonial kick-off, used the occasion to call on members of the Igbo community and other residents to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
Akinsanya specifically appealed to the people to mobilise massive votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Lagos State Governor-elect, Obafemi Hamzat, whom he described as the preferred candidate to succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
He urged the people to support Tinubu for a second term, saying a strong electoral mandate would enable the administration to secure greater political influence and attract more benefits to Lagos and its communities.
According to him, the people should not only vote for the APC but should ensure that the party receives massive support at the polls.
He said the community needed to recognise the importance of its voting strength and use it to negotiate for greater representation and development.
Akinsanya also praised President Tinubu’s administration and expressed confidence in Hamzat’s capacity to lead Lagos State.
He described Hamzat as an intelligent and experienced politician who understood the challenges confronting Lagos and possessed the capacity to continue the development agenda of the state.
He therefore called on residents to mobilise men, women and youths to support the APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
“We are not only canvassing for votes for our father, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We are canvassing for massive votes. The votes in Lagos State should be massive,” he said.
Akinsanya also appealed to the Igbo community to support the APC, stressing that its numerical strength could translate into political influence if properly mobilised.
He linked the appeal to the broader relationship between the Igbo community and the administration in Ikotun-Igando, urging residents to reciprocate what he described as the support and inclusion they had received from the local council.
Football as an instrument of unity
Speaking on the significance of the tournament, Akinsanya described football and other sporting activities as powerful instruments for promoting unity among people of different ethnic groups, ages and social backgrounds.
He said sporting events created an environment where people could interact without allowing ethnic differences to divide them.
“It is when we are playing football that you will see everybody come together. You won’t be able to distinguish Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Delta, Itsekiri or anybody. All of us are one,” he said.
He urged the players to approach the competition with discipline and sportsmanship, stressing that football should not be treated as a do-or-die affair.
“Football is a peaceful game. It is a game that unifies all—both young and old, women and men, boys and girls. Some people will win and some people will lose. That is the spirit of football,” he said.
Akinsanya commended the initiator of the tournament, Eze Chika Nwokedi, for what he described as his commitment to supporting people and contributing to community development.
He said Nwokedi could have chosen to live in more affluent parts of Lagos but had instead remained connected to the community and continued to support various initiatives.
The chairman also acknowledged Nwokedi’s contributions to youth and community development, saying such initiatives deserved encouragement.
Nwokedi unveils youth empowerment plans
Earlier, Eze Chika Nwokedi, President of Ndi Igbo Buru’Otu Association of Nigeria and initiator of the tournament, explained that the competition was designed to go beyond football.
Nwokedi said his objective was to bring people together, encourage young people to develop their talents and create opportunities for outstanding youths.
He disclosed plans to identify talented players during sporting activities and support some of them with educational opportunities, including scholarships and opportunities to study abroad.
He also announced plans to support boxing and other sporting activities as part of his youth empowerment programme.
According to him, a youth empowerment initiative planned for November would involve young people between the ages of 12 and 25, with about N3 million expected to be committed to the programme.
Nwokedi said outstanding youths would be considered for scholarships or opportunities to travel abroad for further education or development.
He explained that the long-term objective was to build a sustainable platform through which young people could benefit from sports, education and empowerment.
“I just want to make them happy. I just want to bring the people together,” he said.
Nwokedi also stressed the importance of using the tournament to strengthen relationships between the Igbo community and other ethnic groups in Lagos.
Organisers target wider participation
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The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Hon. Obinna Onyeruka, said the first edition was primarily targeted at members of the Igbo community, but plans were already in place to make future editions more inclusive.
According to him, subsequent editions would accommodate participants from other ethnic groups, including Yoruba and Hausa communities. He described the tournament as a league-style competition involving six teams.
Onyeruka said the first-place winner would receive N500,000, while the second-place winner would receive N300,000 and the third-place winner N200,000, with an additional N100,000 prize, bringing the total prize commitment to N1 million.
He said the opening matches were closely contested, with Ndi Igbo Buru’Otu and The Legend Star playing out a 0-0 draw.
The second encounter between Obi Udo and Igbo Speaking also ended goalless.
Chief Ogbuka: Tournament is about more than football
In his welcome address, the Vice President of Ndi Igbo Buru’Otu Association of Nigeria, Chief Ogbuka, said the initiative was conceived to achieve objectives beyond sporting competition.
He said football had a unique ability to bring people together regardless of age, profession, social status or ethnic background.
“Today, we are not gathered here merely to watch a competition. We are here to celebrate and share our identity, foster friendship and strengthen the spirit of togetherness among people and communities,” he said.
Ogbuka commended the players for their determination, discipline and sportsmanship, while urging supporters to contribute positively to the success of the tournament.
He also appreciated Akinsanya for honouring the event and supporting the initiative. He called for stronger cooperation among Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba and other communities, describing the tournament as a step towards building a more united society.
Council officials attend tournament
Akinsanya was accompanied to the event by members of the sixth legislative house and other officials of the council.
Among those present were the Leader of the House, Hon. Tajudeen Olorunfemi; Deputy Leader, Hon. Tosin Opebiyi; Majority Leader, Hon. Olawale Hassan; Chief Whip, Hon. Mukandasi Musbau; Councillor representing Ikotun Ward, Hon. Omotosho Saheem; Councillor representing Igando Ward, Hon. Akinyemi Haruna; Councillor representing Obadore-Akesan Ward, Hon. Radhidat Mohammed; Chief of Staff, Ahmed Oloyede;SLG, Comr. Mojisola Ayinke Badmus; and Hon. Omolabi Emmanuel, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, among others.
Stakeholders commend initiative
Stakeholders at the event described the tournament as a welcome development for grassroots sports and community integration.
Engr. Norbert Ejike described the competition as a friendly sporting initiative capable of keeping young people engaged and promoting positive interaction.
He said grassroots football remained important in identifying and developing young talents while providing opportunities for people to interact and build relationships.
Comrade Prince Saviour Iche described the competition as a “match of unity,” saying it had provided an opportunity for members of the Igbo community to come together and showcase their talents.
He commended the organisers for successfully putting together the maiden edition and expressed confidence that subsequent editions would be better.
Similarly, Comrade Okechukwu Izuegbunam, Youth Leader of the Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos, described the tournament as a landmark event for the Ikotun-Igando community.
Izuegbunam said the community had not witnessed a competition of such nature before, describing the opening day as an exciting moment for participants and spectators.
He said the tournament offered residents an opportunity to relax and temporarily ease the pressures of everyday life.
He also commended the officiating team for coordinating the matches, noting that while disagreements were inevitable in football, they could be resolved through understanding and dialogue.
According to him, the maiden edition had also helped the organisers identify areas that needed improvement, with lessons from the first edition expected to be applied to subsequent tournaments.
Grassroots football development
The event also highlighted the importance of sustained investment in grassroots football.
Akinsanya disclosed that he had previously organised an under-14 football competition and planned to continue the initiative annually.
He said some of the young players who participated in the previous competition had been shortlisted for opportunities, while some had subsequently travelled abroad to pursue professional football careers.
He stressed the need for more competitions capable of identifying talented young footballers and providing them with opportunities to develop their careers.
Captains promise stronger performances
Following the opening matches, the captains of Ndi Igbo Buru’Otu and The Legend Star expressed optimism that the competition would achieve its objective of fostering unity.
They also promised that their teams would return stronger in subsequent matches and compete for victory while maintaining sportsmanship.
Although the opening matches produced no goals, spectators applauded the players for their commitment, defensive discipline and competitive spirit.
With the maiden edition now underway, the organisers said their long-term ambition is to transform the Eze Okpoko 1 League Cup into an annual community sporting initiative capable of promoting talent discovery, youth empowerment, education and peaceful coexistence.
The tournament is also expected to expand in subsequent editions to accommodate youths from different ethnic backgrounds, reinforcing its stated objective of using sport as a platform for unity and community development.
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