Ikorodu City football club will face Shooting Stars football club in the opening fixture of the 2025 Eko International Cup tournament on Sunday, July 13.
The pre-season football tournament, organised by SKI-Hi Entertainment in partnership with the Lagos State Government, runs from July 13 and 20 takes place at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium, formerly Onikan Stadium.
The pre-season aims to prepare participating teams for the upcoming football season while providing entertainment for fans during the off-season. The competition will feature two matches daily, except for designated rest days, ensuring continuous excitement throughout the week.
The tournament includes six teams: Remo Stars, Ikorodu City, Shooting Stars, Enyimba of Aba, Rivers United, and Kallon Stars from Sierra Leone.
Group A comprises Ikorodu City, Shooting Stars, and Rivers United, while Group B includes Enyimba FC, Kallon Stars, and Remo Stars.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Managing Director and CEO of the Eko International Cup, Ifeanyi Ogbu, elaborated on the tournament’s objectives.
He explained that the competition was conceived to foster football tourism in Nigeria by attracting local and international teams to host their pre-season tournaments domestically, rather than travelling abroad.
This approach not only stimulates business opportunities for local enterprises, particularly in Lagos, but also energises football fans and creates valuable partnerships for brands.
Senior Manager, Brand, Media, Sponsorship and Marketing, MTN, Friday Okuwe, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. He stated, “We are delighted to partner with the organisers. Football engagement in Nigeria requires collective effort from government, brands, and stakeholders.”
Okuwe further outlined MTN’s extensive involvement in Nigerian football, from supporting the national team and Nigeria League One to sponsoring broadcasts of the English Premier League. He underscored football’s role as a platform for talent development, economic growth, and business ecosystem building.
Moreover, Okuwe praised the concept of football tourism promoted by the Eko International Cup, noting its alignment with MTN’s “You Go See Naija” campaign, which showcases the country’s culture and diversity. “Having clubs from other African countries makes this platform truly global,” he added.
