Ikorodu City Celebrate After Winning Eko International Cup Final

Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side, Ikorodu City FC are excited over their 2025 Eko International Cup title win.

Ikorodu City emerged victorious after recording a narrow 1-0 win over Smart City FC on Sunday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan.

The Lagos-based club needed just one strike to claim the crown, and it came less than 60 seconds into the game. Emmanuel Solomon found the back of the net almost immediately after kickoff.

Speaking after the hard-fought triumph, the club’s media officer, Sam Bamisebi, expressed deep satisfaction with the team’s hunger and performance throughout the competition.

“The management and technical crew were delighted about the trophy. It is not about winning but the fact that the boys were all hungry for success with the team,” Bamisebi said.

He also noted the level of familiarity between the two sides, which added more intensity to the encounter.

“We are used to Smart City from coaches to players, and so it was a tough match. The team is still a work in progress because we paraded some academy players for assessment. It was a good tournament overall”, he said.

The Eko International Cup, a pre-season tournament supported by SKI-Hi Entertainment and the Lagos State Government, brought together top NPFL teams and lower league sides to keep the football spirit alive during the off-season.

Ikorodu City’s road to the final included a thrilling 2-2 draw against Shooting Stars and a victory over Rivers United. Their opponents, Smart City, were impressive in earlier rounds, dispatching 36 Lions 3-1 before edging Remo Stars 1-0 to secure their spot in the final.

In the third-place match, Rivers United humbled Remo Stars 3-0, with Philip Odubia bagging a brace and Ubong Friday adding a third.

Reflecting on the success of the tournament, Executive Director of Publicity and Strategy for the Local Organising Committee, Onome Obruthe, said the event delivered exactly what was envisioned.

“It was a huge success, and we are very happy because all the teams had fun. We plan to stage a bigger pre-season tournament next year, and the planning starts immediately,” he said.