Lagos State MiniFootball League organisers have set aside a total prize pool of ₦4.5 million for the men’s and women’s champions, with the inaugural edition scheduled to begin on 1 August 2026. The 6-a-side tournament brings together grassroots clubs across Agege and Orile-Agege.
Quick facts
- Prize fund: ₦4.5 million for winners in the male and female categories
- Kick-off date: 1 August 2026
- Format: 6-a-side tournament lasting four weeks
- Teams: 30 grassroots sides (20 male, 10 female)
- Venue footprint: three venues in Agege and Orile-Agege for the overall event
- Group stage (men): two groups, nine matches per team across two centres
- Progression (men): top two from each group reach the semi-finals
- Women’s competition: 10 teams at a single venue
- Age limit: none
- Prize split: ₦3 million for men’s winners; ₦1.5 million for women’s winners
- Officials: Hon. Abdul-Ganiyu Vinod Obasa and Sheriff Tajudeen highlighted the league’s goals
The competition is set to run over four weeks, with matches staged at three locations within Agege and Orile-Agege. Thirty teams are involved at grassroots level, including 20 in the men’s draw and 10 in the women’s draw.
For the men’s category, the 20 teams have been arranged into two groups. Each side will play nine matches, with games split across two centres, and the top two teams from each group earning spots in the semi-finals.
The women’s teams will operate on a single-venue basis, with all 10 sides competing there. Organisers have also confirmed there are no age restrictions for participation.
Pitch unveiling and development aims
Agege Local Government Executive Chairman and chair of the Lagos State MiniFootball Association, Hon. Abdul-Ganiyu Vinod Obasa, revealed the prize arrangements ahead of Friday’s exhibition and celebrity novelty match. That showcase took place at the newly built Mini Football Pitch at Keke Primary School in Agege.
Obasa said the league is designed to boost the sport among young players in the Agege community while also acting as a scouting platform. He added that organisers plan to assemble a squad to represent Nigeria at the Mini Football AFCON women’s edition in Cameroon in September, noting that scouting for the squad started the previous weekend.
Sheriff Tajudeen, the Vice-Chairman of the Lagos Mini Football Association and a member of the sport’s national governing body, said the tournament will offer a stage for emerging talents. He also pointed to the educational value of the event, describing it as a way to teach young participants the rules of the game and to strengthen community involvement in Agege.
Tajudeen further stated that mini football is currently being played across 11 Nigerian states. He said there are plans for participation to expand to all 36 states by the end of 2026.
