Ikorodu City, Remo Stars to Kickstart Eko International Cup as MTN Promises Support for Tourney

In what looks like a dress rehearsal ahead of the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, Ikorodu City will tomorrow play host to Remo Stars, Ikenne in the 2025 Eko International Cup, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.

The pre-season tournament which is slated for between July 13 and 20th, will see six teams-Remo Stars, Ikorodu City, Shooting Stars, Rivers United Enyimba of Aba and FC Kallon of Sierra Leone slug it out among themselves.

At a press conference to herald the eight-day tournament, the brain behind the Eko International Cup, Ifeanyi Ogbu, who double as both the founder and CEO of the tournament said the whole idea was borne out of the passion and love he has for the game of soccer.

“We want to make the tournament a football tourism. Create excitement for football fans, and ample opportunity for the teams to tune-up for the incoming season,” Ogbu said.

One of the tournament leading sponsors, MTN Nigeria, represented by it’s Senior Manager, Brand, Media, Sponsorship and Marketing, MTN;
Friday Okuwe, expressed delight at partnering with Eko International Cup.

“Our partnering with this tournament is about unity for the country. We have always support the Nigeria’s football eco system. Football is a major platform for building the youths in this country.

“MTN is excited to see that clubs from other African countries are participating in the tournament. We will stand by the tournament in helping develop Nigerian football, which is also an integral part of our corporate philosophy,” Okuwe said.

Meanwhile, Lagos State Football Association, represented by its vice chairman, Dotun Coker, said Eko International Cup is a tournament very dear to the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, just as he said the state has put up adequate security for participating teams and fans alike.