Tonic FC of Ikorodu have won the 1XCup 2026 on debut, beating Young Strikers of Lagos Island 4-2 on penalties in the final.
Regulation time and added time ended goalless before the match went to a penalty shootout.
Tonic FC of Ikorodu left the Inspire Sports Arena, Cappa, Oshodi, Lagos with the winner’s prize of a giant trophy and a ₦10 million cheque. They have their goalkeeper to thank, as he saved two of Young Strikers’ penalty kicks.
Surprisingly, the Islanders were the better team in the final, but poor finishing cost them the trophy and the cash prize. They received the ₦5 million cash consolation prize for the losing finalist.
Tonic FC’s victory completed a successful knockout campaign that included a 2-1 quarter-final win over Joy Cometh FC and another 2-1 win over JP Young Stars in the semi-finals.
Young Strikers had shown their attacking strength with a 4-1 win over 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-place match, favourites Collins Edwin SC lost to JP Young Stars 4-2 on penalties after regulation time ended 2-2. Collins Edwin fought back from two goals down to level the game at 2-2.
They failed to score two of their kicks in the shootout, allowing JP Young Stars to claim the ₦3 million on offer for the bronze match winners.
Former Nigeria and Manchester United forward Odion Ighalo was among the sports personalities who watched the final.
Speaking after the match, Ighalo praised 1XBet Nigeria for its support of grassroots sports in Nigeria.
The former Watford player said:
“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.”
He also commended the organisers of what he described as the foremost grassroots tournament in Nigeria.
He said:
“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 infrastructure.
Other personalities who graced the final included Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; Anthony Zulu Adeboye, SSA on Grassroots Sports to President Bola Tinubu; Lekan Fatodu, Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission; Chief Yemi Idowu, proprietor of Maracana, Lagos; and Liameed Gaffar, Chairman of Lagos FA, among several others.
