Ojelabi Cup 2025 Sparks Competition in Badagry Division FA With Cash Prizes, Trophies
By Tayo Ogunseye
The 2025 edition of the Ojelabi Cup is set to begin this Saturday, November 15 as 74 teams across the Badagry Division Football Association compete for cash and honour in Lagos.
Registered teams from the western part of the state were drawn from four Local Government Areas of Badagry, Amuwo Odofin, Ajeromi Ifelodun and Ojo as well as Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of Ifelodun, Oriade, Iba, Oto Awori, Olorunda and Badagry West
Instituted by the All Progressive Congress Lagos State Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi, the tournament seeks to discover and elevate young talents for development while creating friendship as they get engaged while keeping away from vices.
Omobola Akingbehin who represented Cornelius Ojelabi emphasised on the significance of birthing a football championship in the Badagry Division where talents abound.
She implored the media to give utmost publicity to the event.
The Local Organising Committee chairman Ayodeji Williams stated during the briefing stated that the “concept of this competition which was initiated by Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi a visionary leader and a great sports lover and currently the All Progressive Congress Chairman in Lagos State was to achieve laudable objectives. These include the promotion of peaceful co-existence amongst the diverse residents of the Badagry Division.”
“To identify and reward the abundant hidden talents and also to provide opportunities for healthy competition and rivalry amongst the football clubs within the Badagry division.”
He further revealed that appropriate sub-committees for Logistics, Security, Technical, Media and Publicity, Medical, Finance and Venues/Facilities/Equipment ave been set-up to ensure a smooth delivery of the tournament.
Preliminary matches according to the schedule, will be held from November 15th to 30th across 10 venues on a knockout basis with the opening fixture between Asejere and Ilogbo Elegba slated for the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) Ijanikin.
Subsequently, the 10 teams which emerged from the first stage will be drawn into two groups of five each where the top two after a round robin will qualify for the semifinal on January 24 before the final and closing ceremony a week later.
Winner will receive one million naira, runners-up will get 750, 000 naira while the third-placed team will earn 500,000 naira.
A 500,000 naira award for the Best Behaved Team was donated by Lagos State Commissioner for Tertiary Education Tolani Sule who commended the ideas behind the competition.
Lagos State Football Association Chairman Gafar Liameed represented by Sheriff Tijani commended the initiator for his efforts on youth development. He donated a trophy for the tournament.
Also present at the draw were BDFA representative, members of the LOC, Local Government officials, club representatives, supporters and observers alike.
