Ikorodu City Football Academy has been crowned the champions of the 2025 1XCup Grassroots Football tournament, securing the prestigious title after defeating ISAGT FC 1-0 in a closely contested final match. The highly anticipated showdown took place on Thursday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
Ikorodu City FA completed the tournament with an impressive unbeaten run, a testament to their consistency and discipline throughout the competition. The decisive moment came midway through the second half when Emmanuel Okeh coolly slotted home the winning goal, breaking the deadlock after a tense first half characterized by end-to-end action and missed chances from both sides. Despite a late drama that saw Ikorodu City reduced to ten men, the team held on to their slender lead with a resilient defensive display until the final whistle.
For their victory, the Ikorodu Oga Boys were awarded the top prize of ₦10 million, a significant portion of the tournament’s substantial prize pool. ISAGT FC, the runner-up, received ₦5 million. The third-place match saw Dosu Joseph FC come from behind to defeat Nath Boys FA 2-1, securing the bronze medal and a ₦3 million prize.
Individual excellence was also celebrated, with Ikorodu City FA’s success extending to the coaching staff, as Wellington Egor was voted the Best Coach of the Tournament. Other individual award winners who each received ₦300,000 included Uche Emeribe (Highest Goal Scorer with five goals), Abdullahi Suleiman (Best Goalkeeper), and Adewale Quadri (Most Valuable Player).
Tournament organiser and former Super Eagles player, Waidi Akanni, hailed the 2025 edition as a huge success, noting that the competition continues to live up to its aim of discovering and elevating new talents from the grassroots level, with none of this year’s semi-finalists having featured in the final four last year. The 1XCup further cemented its reputation as Nigeria’s leading amateur football platform, providing a crucial avenue for young players to transition to professional leagues.
