The 2026 SJ Odi-Olowo Chairman’s Cup has continued to underline its importance as a grassroots talent-development platform, with three players who featured in the competition earning invitations to Nigeria’s national team camp.
Event Coordinator Azeez Mustapha said the development is a strong indication that the tournament is achieving its objective of identifying promising players and providing them with a pathway to higher levels of football.
Speaking after the conclusion of the sixth edition, Mustapha highlighted the impact of national-team call-ups on players who participated in the competition.
Three players were unavailable for the final stages of the tournament because of their national-team commitments, including Grace Akingboye of Ghetto Tigers, Esther Stephen of Unification FC and Kaosara Akanji of Dream Stars, who were involved with the Nigeria U17 women’s national team setup.
Their absence, according to the organisers, represents a positive outcome rather than a setback for the competition.
“If the national team selectors are still calling those players to come and represent the country, it means we are doing something right in this competition,” Mustapha said.
The development reinforces the growing link between the Chairman’s Cup and Nigeria’s national youth teams, with the tournament providing young footballers an opportunity to compete, gain exposure and attract the attention of coaches, scouts and selectors.
The sixth edition of the competition climaxed at the Babajide Sanwo-Olu Sports Arena within Ilupeju Secondary School, Lagos, with finals held across five age and gender categories.
The tournament produced champions in the U8, U13, U15, U19 and female categories, with Ghetto Tigers, HB Utility, Hakade 2020 and Unification Ladies among the teams that emerged victorious.
Beyond the trophies and final results, the organisers believe the bigger success of the Chairman’s Cup lies in its ability to expose young players to competitive football and create opportunities for progression.
The continued presence of former participants in national-team environments is therefore becoming an important measure of the tournament’s impact.
With the sixth edition now concluded, attention is already turning towards the next chapter as organisers look to further strengthen the competition and improve its contribution to grassroots football development in Lagos.
