The organisers of the 8th edition of the Ifeanyi Ekwueme Tico/Select Pre-Season Tournament have confirmed that the competition is scheduled to kick off on August 5th and will run through August 12, 2026.
The highly anticipated tournament will feature Nigeria’s elite teams, Second Tiers League, NNL and NLO in a thrilling contest
It would be recalled that the group matches of the 7th edition were held in Abia state and Enugu. Enugu also hosted the finals between Rangers international FC vs Enyimba international FC which Enyimba won by a lone goal. Enugu will play host to the tournament this year.
The brain behind the tournament, Former Super Eagles Player, Ifeanyi Ekwueme, explained that the tournament offers a vital opportunity to fine-tune tactics, build squad cohesion, and assess readiness of the clubs for the upcoming season.
“This tournament is designed to help teams to prepare for the new season. We have sent invitations to elite clubs and none declined the invite. It affords the participating teams to assess the squad and identify key areas to improve ahead of the forthcoming campaign. Though, interested teams/professionals and NNL Clubs can still express their interest,”
The former Enyimba and Heartland’s Sporting Director’s unwavering commitment, visionary leadership, and dedication to grassroots football development have earned him widespread recognition across the African football space.
The tournament promises to be an exciting showcase of football talent, featuring top-tier Nigerian clubs with sponsors to be unveiled soon” said Ekwueme
With Ekwueme’s organizational expertise, the event is expected to be professionally run, emotionally resonant, and strategically timed — making it a vital curtain-raiser ahead of the 2026/27 NPFL season.
Credit: Sunday Agunbiade
