BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
On August 6, the Radisson Blu Hotel in Lagos was packed to the rafters. The 1XBET Cup 2025 group stage draw and the presentation of the tournament format attracted the attention of well-known Nigerian football personalities, club owners, and ordinary fans.
The event was hosted by 1xBet ambassador and the country’s first female pidgin sports commentator, Suo Chapele, as well as the charismatic showman MC Babajide Guerrero. A highlight of the programme was a performance by an illusionist, which added magic and excitement to the evening.
Over the years, the 1XBET Cup has become part of the country’s football culture and attracted serious media attention. Premium Times, PM News, Leadership, Blueprint, PM Express, ScoreNigeria, The News, Opera News, AIT, OnTV, Sports Newspapers Editors, ThisDay, Punch, Guardian Nations, Telegraph, Complete Sports, Daily Independence, Sunnews, Vanguard – this is an impressive list of media outlets covering the tournament draw.
“We needed to ensure a high level of organization for both the event and the draw procedure. Honesty, transparency, and fair play are the most important principles of the 1XBET Cup 2025. The tournament doesn’t end outside the pitch, but football is the main part of the celebration,” a member of the 1XBET Cup 2025 organizing committee stated.
“A year ago, I attended the draw and was pleasantly surprised by the publicity it attracted. But this time, the event was even more impressive. There were so many journalists in the hall that I felt like a celebrity for a moment. Now we’re even more eager to prove ourselves at the tournament,” the coach of one of the participating teams said.
This is the third edition of the rapidly growing tournament. A year ago, more than 160 teams applied to participate in the 1XBET Cup, which seemed like a large number. However, this year, over 450 teams expressed interest in participating in the biggest football tournament in Lagos.
1XBet is delighted to see how popular the tournament has become with footballers and fans. The 1xCup provides hundreds of young players with an opportunity to prove themselves – a chance they never had before.
1XBet betting company created the tournament not only for football but also for community development. It’s no surprise that the draw was attended by journalists representing both sports media and general news outlets. The 1xCup isn’t just about goals and results; it’s about bringing joy to fans and improving relations among communities in the state.
Group A: Community Gunners FC, 36 LIONS FC, Collins Edwin FC, AFRICANO FC, NATH BOYS FA
Group B: EMALJUS FC, IKORODU CITY FA, G- INNOVATION FC, YOUNG STRIKERS FA, ECAS FA
Group C: EMILOJU FC, DOSU JOSEPH FA, UTILITY FC, SOCCER CARDINALS FA, ISGAT
Group D: FC BETHEL SPORTING, INSPIRE SPORTS ACADEMY, DIVINE PRAISE FC, VINMO ENERGY FA, BRIGHTON FC
Group stage: from August 12 to September 10
Wild Card round: September 16 and 17
Quarter-finals: September 23 and 24
Semi-finals: September 30
Final: October 9