Ibidoyin Aina, founder of the Herizon Sports Initiative and the organiser behind the maiden Lagos Queens Cup, says the competition is designed to fill a gap she believes has long held back Nigerian women’s football the lack of a dedicated scouting platform outside the national team pathway.

The tournament runs from Wednesday to Saturday this week at the Legacy Pitch of the Lagos National Stadium in Surulere, with matches scheduled daily between 7am and 1pm. Eight clubs are taking part FC Robo Queens, Dannaz FC, Victory Football Academy, CATS Ladies, Ayisat Yusuf Football Academy, Dreamstar Ladies, Nakamura Football Academy, and Asisat Oshoala Academy.

Aina said scouts from Finland and Sweden will be in attendance to watch all the fixtures, giving participating players a real chance at attracting offers from overseas clubs during the competition itself rather than waiting for wider recognition.

She explained that for too long, gifted female players in Nigeria have had to wait for an invitation to the Flamingos, Falconets, or Super Falcons before getting any real international exposure, and that the Lagos Queens Cup is meant to change that by putting talented players in front of professional scouts directly. As she put it, the tournament is “the first dedicated women’s football scouting event of its kind in Nigeria.”

By bringing both local and international scouts to Lagos, Aina said the goal is to build a more direct bridge between talented players and professional clubs, giving young footballers a chance to be judged on ability alone rather than through the traditional national-team route.