Mobil Naija Cup 2026 Set to Discover Nigeria’s Future Football Stars

By Arinzechi Chukwunonso

The stage is set for the maiden edition of the Mobil Naija Cup 2026, an Under-16 football tournament designed to identify, nurture, and showcase Nigeria’s next generation of football talent.

With a total prize pool exceeding ₦5,000,000, the competition will feature nine youth teams battling for a single trophy and the champion’s crown in what promises to be a landmark grassroots football initiative.

The tournament is packaged by Inspire Sports Academy, with strong backing from Mobil, a leading brand in motor oil, lubricants, and gasoline, as part of its corporate social responsibility drive focused on youth empowerment and talent development.

Beyond the financial rewards, the tournament is strategically positioned as a pathway to elite football exposure, both locally and internationally.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, the Head of Inspire Sports Academy and Mobil Naija Cup Coordinator, Mr. Francis Ogette, emphasized the vision behind the initiative: “Mobil is organizing this tournament as a way of giving back to society and contributing meaningfully to talent discovery.

Nigeria is blessed with abundant football talent, and initiatives like this help bridge the gap, as government efforts alone are not sufficient.

“Outstanding players from the tournament will have the opportunity to join Inspire Sports Academy, subject to discussions with their parent clubs. Additionally, we will partner with the winning team to ensure their participation in the next edition of the Gothia Cup.

This is the inaugural edition of the Mobil Naija Cup, and it will be an annual event. By next year, we look forward to hosting the second edition.”

The competition will commence with zonal playoffs across five major Nigerian cities from March 2 to March 18, 2026. The host cities are Lagos, Enugu, Benin (Edo State), Akure, and Ilorin.

Top-performing teams from the zones will qualify for the National Finals, scheduled to take place from March 26 to March 28, 2026, at the Inspire Sports Arena, Oshodi, Lagos.