Somalia, Tunisia To Clash In Finals of 37th Ajegunle Mock Nations Cup

Somalia and Tunisia are set to clash in the final of the 37th Edition of the Apapa-Ajegunle Mock Nations Cup which will be decided on Sunday 1st of November 2026 at the popular Nigerian Navy Field in Ajegunle Lagos.

Thirty-two teams began the race for the title and after several weeks of stiff competitions among the teams, the men were separated from the boys, leaving Tunisia and Somalia to via for the 37th title

The championship which has grown over the years began almost ten years
after Nigeria won it’s maiden continental title; a gold medal in the football event of the 1973 2nd All Africa Games in Lagos.

This was followed with the lifting of the African Cup of Nations tournament in 1980 by the country, when it hosted the tournament.

With these results, the football consciousness of the country grew and many youngsters started developing interest in the game.

This followed the experience and exposure of youngsters to emerging football superstars like Sunday Oyarekua , Haruna Ilerika who was discovered from the Principal Cup representing Zumuratul islamiya Grammar School and Martins Eyo who took after his senior brother, Tony and several others.

The football bug was catching on, particularly in Ajegunle area of Lagos. So in 1982 despite the flop of the Green Eagles at the African Cup of Nations, some young boys led by Jay Kay who was a footballer grouped together and played a tournament of 4 teams and tagged it African Cup of Nations.

They did this for a few years till 1986 when a young man called Obiri Tex joined them and renamed the competition Papa Youth Football Association Mock African nations cup competition.

He also brought together other young football enthusiasts such as Hycenth , Morgan and Lucky Abamowei and these 4 men laid the foundation of what has now become the oldest grassroots football tournament in Nigeria.

Later in order to accommodate more members for ease of organization and implementation some other individuals were brought in especially from the Nigerian Navy and so Lawrence Alabra who was a Naval personnel was admitted to handle security and ticketing, since the games were played at the Nigerian Navy field Ajegunle.

Also Mr. White a badged referee was also admitted to handle officiating. And so the Apapa Ajegunle Mock African Cup of Nations tournament was officially born and the 1982 tournament had 32 teams .

After about two editions Chief Amasumo and Sikiru Ashimi were brought in to strengthen the management of the tournament..

Today, the management team of the Apapa Ajegunle Mock African Cup of Nations is led by Coach Isaac Siawe as the chairman, Sikiru Ashimi vice chairman, Abayomi Bolarinwa secretary, Lucky Abamowei tournament manager, Tirimisiyu Sukanmi Fajubi Treasurer , Charles Agbaga assistant Secretary and Raphael Asiemo .