Debutants Tonic FC of Ikorodu emerged champions of the 1XCup 2026 at the weekend, cruising over Young Strikers of Lagos Island 4-2 on penalty shootouts. Regulation and added time had ended goalless before the resort to penalty kicks.
The Ikorodu lads smiled out of the Inspire Sports Arena, Cappa, Oshodi, Lagos with the ultimate winner’s prize of a giant trophy and N10million cheque, courtesy sponsors 1XBet Nigeria. They however have their goalkeeper to thank for saving two of Young Strikers penalty kicks.
Surprisingly, the Islanders were the better team of the final but poor finishing costs them the trophy and the huge cash on offer. They however received the consolation N5million purse for the losing finalist.
Tonic’s victory completed a successful knockout campaign that included a 2–1 quarter-final win over Joy Cometh FC and another 2–1 triumph against JP Young Stars in the semi-finals.
Young Strikers had demonstrated their attacking strength with a 4–1 defeat of Emiloju FC in the quarter-finals. However, they could not reproduce that finishing in a cautious final in which both sides remained defensively organised.
Earlier in the third-placed match, favourites Collins Edwin SC lost to JP Young Stars 4-2 on penalty shootouts after regulation timed deadlocked 2-2. Collins Edwin fought-back from two goals down to tie the game 2-2. They however failed to score two of their kicks in the ensuing shootouts for JP Young Stars to claim the N3million on offer for the bronze match winners.
Former Nigeria and Manchester United’s forward, Odion Ighalo was one of the sports personalities that watched the epic final.
Speaking after the final, Ighalo praised 1XBet Nigeria for the support to grassroots sports in Nigeria.
“We need tournaments like this to identify good players and discover the next Victor Osimhen and the next generation of strikers and midfielders for Nigeria,” observer the former Watford player.
He also reserved special commendations for the organisers of the foremost grassroots tournament in Nigeria.
“I appreciate the people organising this tournament for what they are doing, and hopefully, we will see future stars emerging from this competition.”
He urged government at all levels to support football and other sports through regular competitions, community teams and improved infrastructures.
Winners
Some of the personalities that graced the final include; Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; Anthony Zulu Adeboye, SSA on Grassroots Sports to President Bola Tinubu; Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu; Chief Yemi Idowu, proprietor of Maracana, Lagos; Chairman of Lagos FA, Liameed Gaffar, amongst several others.
