Young football talents from across Nigeria showcased their prowess at the maiden edition of the Mobil Naija Cup finals held in Lagos, at the weekend, with key football stakeholders, scouts and administrators, on ground to discover and nurture young players to stardom.

The tournament, sponsored by Mobil Nigeria, is part of a broader initiative to invest in youth development through grassroots sports, as well as to nurture emerging talents.

The final match, held at the Inspire Sports Arena, Old NITEL Stadium, Oshodi, featured Inspire Sports Academy against a Mobil Selected Team, composed of standout players discovered across regional qualifiers.

Inspire Sports Academy emerged the winner of the tournament by 4-0, clinching a cash prize of N5 million, while individual accolades were presented for Most Valuable Player, Best Goalkeeper and other categories, designed to recognise excellence and motivate participants.

Managing Partner, Dare to Dream Sports Management Limited, Omobolanle Oshoba, the Project Manager and Consultant for the tournament, explained that the initiative was driven by the need to bridge the gap in grassroots football development and provide a platform for undiscovered talents.

He noted that while the competition was structured as a tournament, it also doubled as a scouting platform where exceptional players, including those from non-winning teams, were identified and given opportunities to progress to the finals.

Oshoba explained that the Mobil Selected team was created to ensure that talented players who may not have advanced with their original teams still had a chance to showcase their abilities on a bigger stage.

Speaking on the initiative, the Manager, Lubricant Sales and Marketing, Mobil Lubricants Nigeria, Goriola Oladapo, said the tournament is a long-conceived project designed to nurture young talents by investing in youth development through grassroots sports.

Oladapo stated that Mobil Nigeria partnership with Inspire Sports Academy, to ensure long-term impact was intentional, citing the academy’s track record of developing young players and facilitating their progression to top football clubs across Africa and Europe.

Former Super Eagles striker, Victor Agali, who monitored the tournament, lauded the quality of play, the tactical discipline and technical ability displayed by the young players, describing it as a promising sign for the future of Nigerian youth football at the grassroots level.

The ex-international said the performance reflects growing attention to coaching at the developmental level, urging young players to remain focused and believe in their potential despite existing challenges.

Agali, while stating that Nigeria still lags behind Europe in grassroots development due to inadequate facilities, infrastructure and limited corporate investment, called for support towards continued corporate initiatives to groom talents.