The race for the ₦20 million total prize pool in the 1xCUP 2026 has entered a decisive phase after 24 grassroots teams were drawn into six groups for the group stage of the competition.
The final group-stage draw was conducted on Friday at The Providence Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, following a qualification phase that featured 100 teams competing for 24 places in the main tournament.
The group stage is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 15, and will run until October 8, with the competition culminating in the grand final at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos, on October 31.
The draw ceremony attracted notable figures from Nigerian football, sports, government and youth development, including Nigerian football legend Mutiu Adepoju, a 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner, 1996 Olympic gold medallist and LaLiga Ambassador.
Also present were sports veteran Dimeji Lawal; sports analyst and grassroots football advocate Biola Kazeem; Jubril Gawat, representing the Lagos State Governor’s Office in New Media/Digital Media; Alabi Opeyemi, representing youth affairs; Folorunsho Michael, representing the Sustainable Development Goals; and Sandra Omoniyi, League Commissioner at Lagos Liga and Founder of Asem Sport Management.
1xCUP 2026 Draw Produces Six Groups
The draw produced six competitive groups, with each team now preparing for what promises to be an intense battle for progression to the knockout stage.
Group A
Vido SC
Emiloju FC
JP Young Stars FC
BYT Academicals FC
Group B
NewHope Naija FC
Divine Praise FC
Kiraa FA
Crusaders FC
Group C
Ajuwa FC
Tonic FC
Joy Cometh FC
Mega 22 FC
Group D
36 Lions
Ighalo Football Academy
Maryland United FC
Crystal FC
Group E
Inspire Sports Academy
Young Strikers FC
Dynamic FC
AMA Smile FC
Group F
Collins Edwin Sports Club
ECAs FC
Elite Stars FC
AUX FC
Under the competition format, the top two teams in each group will automatically advance to the next round, producing 12 qualifiers.
They will be joined by the four best third-placed teams to complete the 16-team knockout stage.
From 100 Teams to 24
The 1xCUP 2026 tournament is the fourth edition of the grassroots football competition, which began in 2023 as an initiative aimed at providing young footballers with an opportunity to showcase their talents.
The 2026 edition started with 100 teams competing in the qualification stage before the field was reduced to the 24 teams that made Friday’s draw.
The competition offers a ₦20 million total prize pool, with the eventual champions receiving ₦10 million, while the runners-up will take home ₦5 million and the third-placed team ₦3 million.
There are also individual awards for outstanding participants, including the Most Valuable Player (MVP), highest goal scorer, best goalkeeper and best coach, among others. The organisers also recognise the most well-behaved team.
Beyond the financial rewards, the organisers say the tournament is designed to create a pathway for talented grassroots players to attract the attention of scouts, professional clubs and other football stakeholders.
According to 1xCUP General Manager, Dimeji Adedapo, more than 30 players who featured in previous editions have progressed to professional clubs in Nigeria, other African countries and Europe.
‘1xCUP Is Our Way of Giving Back’
Speaking at the event, Adedapo explained that the competition was conceived as part of 1xBet’s corporate social responsibility initiative.
He said the tournament started in 2023 as an experiment to determine how the brand could contribute meaningfully to the communities where it operates.
“This competition started in 2023 as an experiment by the brand 1xBet, and it is an answer to: what can we give back to the society where we operate?” Adedapo said.
He added that the organisers identified a large pool of talented young footballers who lacked platforms to showcase their abilities and decided to create an avenue for them to be seen.
“We see them every day and we decided: let’s create the platform for them to showcase their talents, and whatever happens next is fine. And since 2023, we have had an amazing record,” he said.
Adedapo said the initiative has already produced more than 30 players who have moved into professional football.
He recalled that the first edition had a ₦1 million grand prize and was played across different locations in Lagos, including Ikorodu, Epe, Badagry and Oshodi, with Shomolu Bariga FC emerging as the inaugural champions.
Following the positive response to the competition and the quality of talent discovered, he said the organisers increased the grand prize significantly from the 2024 edition.
“In 2024, after we saw the reception of the competition by the teams and what these young talents can do, we upped the grand prize from ₦1 million to ₦20 million,” he said.
The prize structure, he explained, now includes ₦10 million for the champions, ₦5 million for the runners-up and ₦3 million for the third-placed team, alongside individual awards.
100 Teams, 20 Days and a Growing Platform
Adedapo acknowledged the logistical demands involved in organising the competition, saying the tournament requires several months of preparation.
“This kind of event is not easy to put together. Every year, we spend three or four months to make sure we achieve it,” he said.
According to him, the 2026 qualification phase began on July 23 and ended on September 4, with 100 teams participating over a 20-day period.
He said the organisers had continued to improve the tournament’s production quality, particularly its video content, to ensure that players have useful materials to present to scouts and professional clubs.
“We know that many of these young talents and grassroots football teams, when there’s an opportunity to sell their players, don’t have what to show to scouts,” Adedapo said.
“But when you go to the 1xCUP Nigeria Bet YouTube platform, you can pick a lot of clips. We even do individual clips for fantastic players.”
Adedapo Appeals to 24 Teams Over Discipline
While celebrating the growth of the competition, Adedapo identified team organisation and punctuality as some of the challenges confronting the tournament.
He expressed concern over teams arriving late for matches or failing to present enough players despite receiving their schedules in advance.
He recalled instances from previous editions when teams had to forfeit matches after failing to comply with the competition’s requirements.
According to him, such situations create unnecessary difficulties after significant resources have already been committed to venues, logistics, video production, officials and other aspects of the tournament.
“It is not encouraging. Teams should realise that the only thing they can give back to us in the competition is their cooperation,” he said.
Adedapo stressed that participation in the competition comes at no financial cost to the teams.
“It is a 100 per cent free competition. We are not taking registration fees from anyone. Even after the competition, if you win, you get ₦10 million without paying a dime, and they have a good platform — everything,” he said.
He therefore appealed to the 24 teams that made the 2026 group stage to respect the rules, keep to match schedules and make the most of the opportunity.
“So, I am using this opportunity to appeal to the 24 teams in this year’s competition to please adhere to time and enjoy the tournament,” he said.
Ibeanusi Congratulates 24 Teams
Also speaking at the draw, Geraldine Ibeanusi, Managing Director of 1xBet Nigeria, congratulated the 24 teams that survived the qualification phase.
In her opening remarks, Ibeanusi thanked the sponsors, participating clubs, supporters and other stakeholders for their contributions to the growth of the competition.
She urged the teams to approach the group stage with determination, discipline and respect for their opponents as they battle for places in the knockout rounds.
She also wished the players, coaches and officials success as the tournament enters its most competitive stage.
The draw event ended with Adedapo thanking the participating teams, guests, sponsors, technical officials and everyone involved in organising the competition.
He reaffirmed the organisers’ commitment to using 1xCUP as a platform for discovering grassroots talent and creating pathways for promising Nigerian footballers to pursue professional careers.
With the group stage now set to begin, attention shifts to the pitch as the 24 surviving teams begin their quest for the 1xCUP 2026 title, the ₦10 million champions’ prize and an opportunity to take the next step in their football careers.
