8th Edition of Ifeanyi Ekwueme Tico/Select Pre-Season Tournament Gets Date, Venue

The organisers of the 8th edition of the Ifeanyi Ekwueme Tico/Select Pre-Season Tournament have confirmed that the competition is scheduled to kick off on August 5th and will run through August 12, 2026.

The highly anticipated tournament will feature Nigeria’s elite teams, Second Tiers League, NNL and NLO in a thrilling contest

It would be recalled that the Group matches of the 7th edition was held in Abia state and Enugu, while Enugu hosted the finals between Rangers international FC vs Enyimba international FC which Enyimba won by a lone goal.

Enugu will play host to the sought after tournament this year.

The competition was founded by former Super Eagles player Ifeanyi Ekwueme; saying it gears towards allowing clubs to test their tactics and give young players a chance to be seen by scouts.

The Ex Super Eagles forward emphasized the tournament’s importance, noting that it offers a vital opportunity to fine-tune tactics, build squad cohesion, and assess readiness for the upcoming season.

“This tournament is designed to help teams to prepare for the new season. We have sent invitations to elite clubs and none declined the invite.

“It affords participating teams the opportunity to assess their squad and identify key areas of improvement ahead of the forthcoming campaign. Though, interested teams/professionals and NNL Clubs can still express their interest”, he said

The former Enyimba and Heartland’s Sporting Director’s unwavering commitment, visionary leadership, and dedication to grassroots football development have earned him widespread recognition across the African football space.

The tournament promises to be an exciting showcase of football talent, featuring top-tier Nigerian clubs with sponsors to be unveiled soon” said Ekwueme

With Ekwueme’s organizational expertise, the event is expected to be professionally run, emotionally resonant, and strategically timed ; making it a vital curtain-raiser ahead of the 2026/27 NPFL season.

Credit: Sunday Agunbiade (Mr VAR)