The forthcoming pre-season tournament, Eko International Cup (EIC), is fast generating discourse on the football scene as fans of the game are looking forward with high expectations.
One remarkable game in the minds of many is the new South West derby in the domestic league, which will be rekindled in the tourney.
Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan and Nigeria Professional Football League champions, Remo Stars, are the latest rivals in the domestic league from the South West zone.
In the just concluded season, Remo Stars achieved a double over 3SC by beating the Ibadan, Oyo State-based team 2-1 in Ikenne, Ogun State and 1-0 in Ibadan.
With the two teams in the highly anticipated pre-season tourney holding in Lagos, a tough encounter is expected, especially with the pedigree of their two coaches.
Gbenga Ogunbote of 3SC is one of the most respected coaches in the country, while Daniel Ogunmodede is also among the top coaches in the country.
“This is one big match I look forward to in the tournament just as I expect to see the teams coming from other parts of the continent give them a good run,” a Lagos-based football said on Thursday.
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The Eko International Cup takes the centre stage between July 6 and 13, 2025 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
SKI-Hi Entertainment in collaboration with the Lagos State Government is staging the competition expected to feature a total of eight teams.
They are Remo Stars, Ikorodu United, Shooting Stars and Enyimba of Aba.
The four teams expected from other parts of the continent are FC Kallon of Sierra Leone; Accra Hearts of Oak, Ghana; SuperSports United FC of South Africa; and FC Dadje of Republic of Benin.
The Executive Director, Publicity and Strategy for the Local Organising Committee of the EIC, Onome Obruthe, said the tournament would be a game changer in arrangements for the tournament are in top gear.
Obruthe said: “We have been working so hard on the pre-season tournament and we appreciate the strong support of Lagos State Government in getting us to where we are today.
“Fans of the game will have a good dose of exciting football in July, I am sure about this.”
