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From July to October, Nigeria will once again play host to the 1xCup, an annual amateur football tournament organized by global betting company 1xBet. Widely regarded as one of the country’s premier grassroots competitions, the 2025 edition offers a prize pool of ₦20 million and a stage for emerging football talent to shine.
Registration for the tournament runs from June 2 to June 20, with community-based teams across the nation gearing up for a shot at glory.
Among the early contenders is TEAM 360, a Lagos-based side founded in 2013 by Hamza Akeem Oladimeji to provide opportunities for young, aspiring footballers in Surulere. Reflecting on the team’s performance in the 2024 edition, where they struggled due to the absence of key players who had moved abroad, Oladimeji expressed renewed hope for this year’s campaign.
“We want to redeem ourselves,” he said”.
“With a strengthened squad and the fans behind us, anything is possible.”
TEAM 360 will be led by Captain Feranmi Olusegun and rising star Raheem Muiz, as the team aims to make a deeper run this year. Oladimeji recalled a standout 2024 fixture against Bariga United, describing the electric atmosphere as reminiscent of a Champions League final.
“Even though we lost the spirit of unity and sportsmanship gave us the inspiration to come back stronger,” he added.
Now in its latest edition, the 1xCup has evolved into more than just a competition—it has become a talent pipeline, with scouts and fans alike searching for the next big Nigerian football star.
“Some of these boys could be the next Jay-Jay Okocha or Victor Osimhen,” said Oladimeji. Beyond national recognition, the tournament offers rich incentives: the winning team will walk away with ₦10 million, while the top goal scorer will receive ₦300,000 and tickets to Nigeria’s matches at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
As preparations intensify, teams like TEAM 360 are setting their sights on victory—and a chance to write their names into Nigerian football folklore.
