The NIS Hall in Lagos buzzed with nostalgia and anticipation on Friday as the Bet9ja Foundation Ex Internationals Cup held its official draw.
Former Super Eagles stars, community leaders, and grassroots football stakeholders gathered under one roof, eager to see how the competition would unfold. For many in the room, it felt like a reunion of old teammates and rivals, now returning to football in a new role: mentors and community ambassadors. The draw marked the start of a tournament designed not just to entertain, but to reconnect Nigeria’s football legends with the places that first shaped them.
This year’s competition will be played on a strict home-and-away basis, a deliberate choice to take the games to the communities of the ex internationals.
The defining feature of the Ex Internationals Cup is the adoption system. Every ex-international has adopted a team from their community and will serve as patron and mentor.
When the draw began, the hall came alive with applause and cheers as pairings were revealed. FC Ekpo will face FC Ipaye, FC Amoo takes on FC Ogunlade, and FC Agali squares up against FC Oloyede. Further down the list, FC Ayila meets FC Agu, FC Poto battles FC Odiaka, and FC Giwa clashes with FC Temile. Each fixture carries a personal story, linking a former international’s name to a community club and setting up derbies with real emotional weight. For the fans, it’s a chance to see names they grew up idolizing now shaping the next generation.
Some of the most eye-catching ties include FC Akanni vs FC Dominic, FC Babington vs FC Dosu, and FC Disu vs FC Enegwea. These matchups bring together players who once shared dressing rooms for Nigeria, now facing off from opposite dugouts in their adopted communities. FC Odinni vs FC Ikpeba and FC Edema vs FC Nieketin promise similar intrigue, pitting former teammates against each other in a battle for local bragging rights. The format ensures that every community gets a home game, turning each fixture into a mini-festival of football and culture.
Other pairings underline the national spread of the tournament. FC Udeze vs FC Ugbade, FC Atine vs FC Obafemi, and FC Oguntuase vs FC Omoruyi will see action across different regions, while FC Aiyegbeni vs FC Elaho and FC Okpara vs FC Agbai complete the lineup Hosting matches in the ex-internationals’ communities also means improved visibility for local pitches, schools, and youth academies that rarely get national attention.
Speaking after the draw, organizers explained that the tournament is about more than just football. It’s a development platform aimed at rebuilding grassroots structures, reigniting local fan culture, and creating pathways for young players to be scouted. By bringing the games home, the Bet9ja Foundation hopes to stimulate local economies, encourage community pride, and give young players a stage to perform in front of people who matter to them. The ex-internationals themselves have embraced the responsibility, many describing it as a full-circle moment in their careers.
As the first round approaches, excitement is building in the communities tied to these fixtures.. The Bet9ja Foundation Ex Internationals Cup is set to turn familiar local pitches into stages for high-stakes football, mentorship, and community celebration.
The Full Fixtures:
FC Ekpo Vs FC Ipaye
FC Amoo Vs FC Ogunlade
FC Agali Vs FC Oloyede
FC Ayila Vs FC Agu
FC Poto Vs FC Odiaka
FC Giwa Vs FC Temile
FC Akanni Vs FC Dominic
FC Babington Vs FC Dosu
FC Disu Vs FC Enegwea
FC Odinni Vs FC Ikpeba
FC Edema Vs FC Nieketin
FC Udeze Vs FC Ugbade
FC Atine Vs FC Obafemi
FC Oguntuase Vs FC Omoruyi
FC Aiyegbeni Vs FC Elaho
FC Okpara Vs FC Agbai
