Nigeria’s top amateur sides, Ikorodu City FA and ISAGT, will clash for glory on Thursday, October 16, in the grand finale of the 2025 https://1xcup.ng at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena (Onikan Stadium), Lagos.

The highly anticipated showdown promises to bring Lagos football fans a thrilling display as both teams enter the final unbeaten throughout the tournament.

Before the main event, Nath Boys FA will battle Dosu Joseph FC in the third-place playoff, with ₦3 million up for grabs.

The 1xcup.ng 2025 champion will receive ₦10 million—half of the tournament’s ₦20 million prize pool—while the runners-up will pocket ₦5 million.

The grassroots competition, sponsored by 1xBet (https://1xbet.ng/) has established itself as Nigeria’s largest amateur football tournament, attracting over 450 participating teams in 2025—almost triple the 2024 edition.

Over the past months, it has drawn crowds from local communities and attention from national scouts eager to discover emerging talents.

In their semi-final clashes, Ikorodu City FA overcame Nath Boys FA 4–1 on penalties after a 1–1 draw, while ISAGT cruised past Dosu Joseph FC with a 2–0 victory.

Both teams have demonstrated exceptional tactical discipline and attacking depth, setting up what promises to be an explosive final.

Fans, journalists, and football enthusiasts are invited to the Mobolaji Johnson Arena to experience the culmination of this vibrant competition.

The tournament organisers described the 1xCup as “a unifying force that celebrates sporting spirit and community pride.”

Spectators can also follow live updates and exclusive coverage via the official website, 1xcup.ng.

The president of Burkina Faso Ibrahim Traoré has demanded an explanation from world football governing body FIFA as well as the Confederation of African football (CAF) on how Nigeria beat his team to a world cup qualifiers spot, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Burkina Faso thought they are through to the playoff after a 3-1 win over Ethiopia, but CAF’s decision to deduct points picked against the lowly ranked team in each group, before deciding on who made the playoff following the withdrawal of Eritrea worked against them.

It favoured Nigeria who only took two points from the team that finished bottom in their group Zimbabwe. A situation that has left the president fuming and demanding answers.

Reports indicate that President Ibrahim Traoré has requested a detailed explanation regarding the qualification process, which saw Burkina Faso narrowly miss out despite a strong finish to their campaign.

Burkina Faso had to play their early qualifiers away from home before the renovation of the Stade du 4 Août was completed to meet CAF standards.

Once cleared, they returned home, picked up crucial victories and believed they had done enough only to find out that Nigeria advanced ahead of them.

Nigeria seal their spot in the world cup qualifiers playoff with a 4-0 win over Benin Republic in the last round of games in the world cup qualifiers with top striker Victor Osimhen scoring a hattrick, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

With Nigeria needing four goals to seal a spot in the playoff in Morocco, Osimhen struck in the 3rd, 37th and 51st minute before Frank Onyeka rounded up the win with a fourth goal in the second minute of time added on.

Reacting to the performance of the Galatasaray striker, Benin Republic defender Mohamed Tijani who plays for Swiss side Yverdon Sport FC gave praises to the hattrick hero saying he hasn’t faced a player like the 26 year old before.

” He ( Osimhen) is one of the best I have faced. Safe to say I have never faced a striker like that with his all round play, constant running, movement and heading abilities. He was at his best yesterday and decided the game”, he said.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has explained his joy after his team’s 4-0 win over Benin Republic which sealed a spot in the world cup qualifiers playoff, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Super Eagles needed a 4-0 win to qualify for the playoff against Benin Republic, who came into the game as group leaders searching for at least a draw to keep alive their dream of qualifying for the world cup for the first time in their history.

Chelle’s team killed the dream with top striker Victor Osimhen scoring a hattrick and Frank Onyeka sealing the win with a late strike to close the game.

“I am so proud of my players, they deserve this game because It was not easy with a new coach and a new philosophy. So now,we go to Morocco. This is not finished it is the beginning, it is very difficult. So tonight I am just happy for my players, they played a great game, especially the best striker in the world”, the coach said.

“To me for sure they are my champions and I am very happy for the players. The football is like that sometimes you make mistakes but they like the country Nigeria and they give everything,” he further said.

He ended up by praising the efforts of all his players in particular William Troost-Ekong the captain of the team, who didn’t get to play but scored a vital goal away to Lesotho in a 2-1 win on Friday.

“I am so proud of my players. I am so proud of my captain because he scored a great penalty in Lesotho. Everybody bring something in this team, like I said, it is not finished.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Benin Republic Gernot Rohr says the coach of the Nigerian team Eric Chelle has changed the team a whole lot from the one he left behind following his exit as coach in 2022, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Rohr saw the dream of his team qualifying for the world cup evaporated at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo after losing 4-0 to a rampant Super Eagles team led by top striker Victor Osimhen.

Nigeria booked a spot in the playoff by virtue of the win, and Rohr who was the last coach to qualify the Super Eagles for the world cup in 2018 was asked about the difference he noticed in the team he left behind after his unceremonious exit in 2022.

“Oh, lots of things changed. I’m still happy to see half of the players were with me, and I’m very happy to see them, like friends. I will be the supporter for the playoffs. I will be the supporter for the World Cup because I think they can do it”, he said at the post match presser.

“We beat them in Abidjan and it was a big surprise. So, it was the first time that Benin could win a game against Nigeria. We are proud of that. And I think the Super Eagles are in a good way. Now we will see what will happen in November already. For the playoffs. Okay, so I wish you good luck for them. Thank you”, he stated.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Benin Republic Gernot Rohr says the performance of Victor Osimhen in yesterday’s game against his team left him with mixed emotions, considering the role he played in the development of the forward, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Osimhen scored a hattrick yesterday to power Nigeria to a 4-0 win over Benin Republic, which ended their chances of making it to the world cup, but sealed the spot of the Super Eagles in the playoff.

Speaking after the game, Rohr saluted the performance of Osimhen but said he is unhappy that it happened against his team and ended their world cup dream. He explained how he brought the 26 year old into the Super Eagles fold at the age of 17 after his exploits at the U17 World Cup.

“We are still a team with a lot to learn. Nigeria started with a goal in the first minutes already. I don’t know it’s offside or not offside, but we had to build a new defense because of the yellow cards. The players were not here, and then we tried. But when you have such a big player like Osimhen. I remember when I brought Osimhen in the team, he was 17 and we made here our first game against Tanzania”, the former Super Eagles coach said.

“He was already in our selection, so I’m very happy to see him like that, but I’m not happy that he did it against me and again, but I hope that he will do it in the playoffs for your country, which I love. But today, we are a little bit disappointed because the dream to go to the World Cup for us is finished”, he concluded.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Coach of the senior national team of Benin Republic Gernot Rohr has explained why his team were beaten 4-0 by Nigeria in their final world cup qualifiers game yesterday in Uyo, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Rohr’s team came into the game needing at least a draw to keep their hope alive , but failed to stand the firepower of a rampant Nigerian team led by top striker Victor Osimhen who scored a hattrick in the rout.

Substitute Frank Onyeka scored the vital fourth goal for Nigeria which helped them to seal a play off spot, and in the process ended the hope of Benin Republic appearing at the world cup for the first time in their history.

A big disappointment because we wanted to go to World Cup also with our country Benin for the first time in the history but we could not”, the coach said at the post match.

“We had to win here and to win in Nigeria when Nigeria is also playing for the playoff is something which is very difficult, especially if you miss two suspended players from the last game in Rwanda and three injured players we had already before from the September games, so we don’t have enough players of high level.

“Like, you know, we have some players who started to match who don’t have a club actually. We have some players who are playing in the fifth division in France, but I’m proud of my team. I’m proud because they did so very well in this qualifiers for the World Cup, and we could hope until the last game today to go there. That’s why, really, I’m very happy to be the coach of this team”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

A total of 11 teams including the Super Eagles of Nigeria will take part in the world cup qualifiers playoff which will begin in November, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Following the conclusion of games in the various zones that will be taking part in the playoff, where the best two teams will qualify for the world cup.

Super Eagles will begin their campaign in November against Gabon for a spot in the African zone schedule to take place in Morocco. The second semi final will be between Cameroon and Congo Dr.

The winner will then go to the intercontinental playoff, where the last two teams in the final will be handed a ticket to the world cup. Below is the list of all the teams in the playoff.

Nigeria

Gabon

Cameroon

DR Congo

Panama

Costa Rica

Jamaica

New Caledonia

Bolivia

Iraq

United Arab Emirates

Super Eagles secured a spot in the playoff for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers after a 4-0 win over Benin Republic in their final game of the qualifiers with Victor Osimhen scoring a hattrick, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Osimhen’s hattrick was followed by a late goal from Frank Onyeka which ensured that Nigeria finished second in their group, and also picked up one of the four slots allocated to best second place teams among all the groups.

We rate the players who represented Nigeria in the big win.

Stanley Nwabali – Largely untroubled and had nothing to do by way of making saves. He however slowed down the attack of the team with his time wasting antics with scores not yet at the level of securing a playoff spot for Nigeria…..7/10

Benjamin Fredrick – Another game and another top notch performance from the young defender. Dealt nicely with everything that came his way and for now he has cemented his spot in the defence of the team…..8/10

Zaidu Sanusi – Marked his return to the starting lineup with an all round performance. A huge upgrade on Bruno Onyemaechi. Picked up a knock that led to his substitution…..8/10

Semi Ajayi – Won everything in the air and had a 100 percent tackle rate success. Brought calm, stability and ball distribution to the defence…..8/10

Calvin Bassey – As it stands he is undroppable. In all of the games under Eric Chelle he hasn’t put a foot wrong. Strong, quick and a good passer of the ball. He was at his best today…..8.5/10

Alex Iwobi – Had a mixed performance based on his standard but didn’t let it affect him as he ensured that he helped the team in defence and also in transition…..7/10

Wilfred Ndidi – Guilty of giving the ball away in the first half cheaply. A better second half performance was part of why Nigeria got the needed goals to make the playoff…..8/10

Moses Simon – A game to remember for the Paris FC man. A pin point delivery to Osimhen helped Nigeria scored the third goal of the game, and he was on hand again to supply the assist for the fourth goal which effectively sealed Nigeria’s spot in the playoff…..9/10

Samuel Chukwueze – Picked two vital assists in the game by setting up the first two of Osimhen’s three goals. His best performance in a Super Eagles shirt in a long while. Sadly it was cut short by a knock that led to his substitution…..8/10

Jerome Akor – Dropped down deep to link play for Osimhen and put in a very good shift. Unfortunate not to get on the score sheet. Looks like he has come to stay…..7/10

Victor Osimhen – The emperor, the conqueror and the lion. A five star performance capped with his hattrick. Two headers and a smart finish was enough to set Nigeria on the path to the win that gave them a play off spot…..10/10.

Substitutes:

Tolu Arokodare – Failed to match the tempo of the game and didn’t quite get into the flow…..5/10

Frank Onyeka – Brought energy, drive and capped it with the fourth goal that took Nigeria to the playoff…..7/10

Bruno Onyemaechi – A much better showing than in the previous two games…..6/10

Terem Moffi – Played a role in the all important fourth goal. That was his only major contribution in the game and it isn’t enough to get a rating.

Super Eagles secured a spot in the playoff for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers after a 4-0 win over Benin Republic in their final game of the qualifiers with Victor Osimhen scoring a hattrick, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Osimhen’s hattrick was followed by a late goal from Frank Onyeka which ensured that Nigeria finished second in their group, and also picked up one of the four slots allocated to best second place teams among all the groups.

From there they will advance the CAF playoff, a mini tournament which will be played next month in Morocco. The winner might need to win up to four games to reach the 2026 World Cup depending on their FIFA ranking.

Nigeria after the conclusion of all the games in the group will face Gabon for a spot in the final , with the other final to be contested between Cameroon and Congo Dr.

The winner of the final then advances to the intercontinental playoffs, where six teams from CAF, AFC, CONMEBOL, OFC, and two from CONCACAF will compete.

The four lowest-ranked teams play first, with the winners going on to face the two highest-ranked sides for the final two World Cup spots. The teams who make the final have already sealed a spot in the world cup.