The Eko International Cup, a high-profile pre-season tournament, is set to kick off with a South‑West derby featuring Ibadan’s Shooting Stars against reigning NPFL champions Remo Stars at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos. The fixture slated between 6 and 13 July is generating significant anticipation, as Remo Stars aim to replicate their double success over Shooting Stars last season (2–1 in Ikenne, 1–0 in Ibadan).
Coaches Gbenga Ogunbote (Shooting Stars) and Daniel Ogunmodede (Remo Stars) are expected to showcase tactical prowess in what could prove to be the tournament’s standout match.Eight teams will compete, including Ikorodu United, Enyimba, FC Kallon (Sierra Leone), Hearts of Oak (Ghana), SuperSport United (South Africa), and FC Dadje (Benin).
Organisers SKI‑Hi Entertainment, in partnership with Lagos State Government, promise a festival of football, reinforced by awareness campaigns that began in early June and sponsorships from MTN and Bigi Drinks. Onome Obruthe, LOC’s Executive Director for Publicity and Strategy, highlighted the event’s potential to “be a game changer” with high‐octane matches and broad fan engagement.
Editorial
We welcome the Eko International Cup for infusing fresh vitality into Nigeria’s football calendar. Opening with a South‑West derby instantly raises the stakes pitting historic rivals and city pride on the line. Such encounters do more than prepare squads they reignite passion.
Remo Stars’ dominance last season demands they be tested from the outset, while Shooting Stars have every reason to seek redemption. The coaches’ reputations add drama Ogunbote versus Ogunmodede sets the tone for serious tactical battles.
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This tournament matters it brings Nigerian teams together with continental opposition in a vibrant Lagos setting. Football fans in the region deserve richer, more frequent showcases of elite-level play. The EIC, backed by media campaigns and big-name sponsors, could become a blueprint for sustainable, cross-border tournaments that elevate every participating club.
We urge organisers to sustain this momentum—making the Cup a recurring fixture that nurtures local talent, attracts international interest, and honours historic rivalries. If well run, it will do more than thrill spectators it will enrich Nigerian football’s future.
Did You Know?
- Remo Stars claimed a domestic double over Shooting Stars last season: 2–1 in Ikenne and 1–0 in Ibadan.
- The Eko International Cup features eight teams, including sides from Ghana, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Benin.
- The tournament runs from 6–13 July at Lagos’s historic Mobolaji Johnson Arena, formerly known as Onikan Stadium.
- Organisers launched public awareness and ticketing campaigns from 6 June, supported by MTN and Bigi Drinks.
- SKI‑Hi Entertainment is delivering the Cup in alliance with the Lagos State Government, aiming to showcase continental football and deepen fan engagement.
