On October 31, Lagos witnessed the conclusion of the fourth season of the 1xCup, which treated fans to a real sensation as debutants Tonic FC claimed the tournament title. In the final, the team from Ikorodu defeated Young Strikers FC to lift the trophy. Their perseverance, fighting spirit, and faith in their abilities were rewarded with gold medals and N10 million in prize money.
Debutants who were written off too soon
Until recently, few believed Tonic FC could emerge victorious. Oladipupo Abiola’s side barely made it through the qualifiers, beating Agbede Supreme FC and Vino Gano only on penalties before recording three draws in the group stage. Following such results, hardly anyone considered the team a contender for the trophy.
However, when the knockout stage began, Tonic FC transformed. First, they knocked 36 Lion FC out of the tournament, then defeated Joy Cometh FC, and finally overcame JP Young Stars FC in the semi-finals. It is worth noting that all three victories came by the same scoreline of 2-1.
The team was now just one step away from lifting the trophy, with Young Strikers FC standing in their way in the final. Young Strikers were among the highest-scoring teams in the competition. In eight 1xCup matches, the Lagos Island side scored 21 goals, six of which came from their 17-year-old forward, Lawal Muiz.
Two saves that won the trophy
A festive atmosphere reigned in the stands at the Inspire Sport Arena during the final. Fans cheered their hearts out, urging the teams on, but the players were in no hurry to take risks. The cost of a mistake was too high, so both sides adopted a cautious approach, focusing more on defence.
Young Strikers FC created more scoring opportunities but were unable to convert them. The match ended goalless after regulation time, forcing the title to be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
It was at that moment that Tonic FC goalkeeper Femi Adegboyega became the hero of the day. He made two crucial saves, while his teammates converted all their spot-kicks. Abdulahi Jamiu took the decisive fourth penalty, sealing the title for Tonic FC with a well-taken shot.
Young Strikers FC settled for the silver medals and N5 million in prize money.
Bronze medals also decided on penalties
The third-place match also went to a penalty shoot-out, but the game unfolded differently. In the first minute of the encounter between Collins Edwin SC and JP Young Stars FC, the designated visitors opened the scoring before doubling their lead in the 34th minute.
It seemed as though the outcome was already clear, but Collins Edwin SC had no intention of giving up. The team managed to score twice to level the match and force a penalty shoot-out.
However, they were unable to complete their comeback. JP Young Stars FC proved more clinical from the spot, winning 4-2 to claim the bronze medals and N3 million in prize money.
Future stars in front of Ighalo’s eyes
The tournament’s decisive matches attracted several high-profile guests. Among them were Odion Ighalo, a former striker for the Nigerian national team and Manchester United, Lekan Fatodu, Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, and other representatives of the sporting community.
After the final, Ighalo thanked 1xBet Nigeria for supporting grassroots football and emphasised the importance of such competitions in developing young players.
The fourth season of the 1xCup, organised by 1xBet, proved to be a real celebration of amateur football. Over a period of just over three months, 100 clubs from five divisions across Lagos participated in the tournament.
Despite the impressive N20 million prize pool, many players valued the opportunity to showcase their talents even more, as more than 30 participants from previous editions have already gone on to pursue careers in professional football.
“This season has brought us some incredible moments! We’ve seen thrilling matches, fierce battles, and teams that never gave up, even in the toughest situations. The story of Tonic FC is the best proof. But the most important thing for us is not who lifted the trophy, but the fact that, thanks to 1xCup, talented young players get a chance to make a name for themselves and take their first step towards a professional career. It’s for stories like these that we organize this competition,” a spokesperson for 1xCup remarked.
However, the 1xCup 2026 has not had its final say yet. On November 6, the winners of the individual awards will be announced at the Award Night ceremony. Fans will discover the names of the tournament’s MVP, top scorer, best goalkeeper, and other standout players from the season that has just ended.