••• 16 Teams to Battle for ₦1m Prize Pool
The Akure North Football Council has announced the maiden edition of the Hon. Johnson Ogunbolude Unity Cup 2026, a grassroots football tournament aimed at discovering young talents, promoting unity, and accelerating football development across Akure North Local Government Area.
The tournament, themed “Competition of Champions, Building the Future Stars,” will feature 16 football clubs and academies competing for honours and a total prize pool of ₦1 million.
According to the organisers, registration for participating teams will run from July 1 to July 20, 2026, while the competition is scheduled to kick off on July 28 and conclude in August 2026. Matches will be played from Monday to Saturday.
The competition will be played in a structured format comprising the group stage, Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place playoff, and final, with teams earning three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no point for a loss.
The champions will receive ₦500,000, a trophy, and gold medals, while the first runners-up will take home ₦300,000 and silver medals. The third-placed team will be rewarded with ₦200,000 and bronze medals.
Individual honours will also be presented to the Most Valuable Player (MVP), Highest Goal Scorer, Best Goalkeeper, Best Coach, and Fair Play Team.
The opening ceremony will take place at Police Secondary School, while matches will also be hosted at St. Francis Field and Ejioba High School. The third-place match and grand finale will return to Police Secondary School.
Organisers said the tournament is designed to expose young footballers to standard competition, attract scouts and coaches, promote discipline, and create opportunities for players and academies to gain recognition.
Participating teams are expected to register officially, provide their own jerseys, and present three match balls for the competition.
The Akure North Football Council noted that the Unity Cup is expected to become an annual football festival that will strengthen grassroots football, foster community integration, and serve as a platform for identifying future stars capable of representing Ondo State and Nigeria at higher levels.
Interested teams can obtain further information through the tournament organisers via the designated contact numbers released by the council.
