The inaugural edition of the Eko International Cup is set to kick off on Sunday, July 13, 2025, with a mouth-watering South West derby between Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) and ambitious Nigeria National League outfit Ikorodu City FC.
The pre-season tournament, designed to help clubs fine-tune their preparations for the 2025/26 campaign, will run from July 13 to July 20 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena Onikan , Lagos.
Read Also: Pre-Season: Organisers confirm FC Kallon, five others for Eko International Cup
Shooting Stars are drawn in Group A alongside Ikorodu City and Rivers United, while Group B features Enyimba International, Remo Stars, and FC Kallon of Sierra Leone.
According to the draw held in Lagos on Friday, 3SC will begin their campaign against Ikorodu City in the tournament’s curtain-raiser on Sunday.
They will then face former NPFL champions Rivers United on Wednesday, July 16.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, the Ibadan-based club emphasized that the Eko International Cup presents a valuable opportunity to evaluate new signings, assess trialists, and maintain the match fitness of existing squad members ahead of the new season.
“We’re using the tournament to build a solid squad as we prepare for the upcoming season. It’s an opportunity to test new and existing players,” a club statement read.
The six-team competition promises a high level of competition with top-tier clubs from Nigeria and beyond battling for early bragging rights before the new season kicks off.
Eko International Cup 2025 — Fixtures & Groups
Group A:
Shooting Stars
Ikorodu City
Rivers United
Group B:
Enyimba International
FC Kallon (Sierra Leone)
Remo Stars
Fixtures:
Sunday, July 13: Ikorodu City vs Shooting Stars
Monday, July 14: Enyimba vs FC Kallon
Wednesday, July 16: Shooting Stars vs Rivers United
Wednesday, July 16: Remo Stars vs FC Kallon
Friday, July 18: Ikorodu City vs Rivers United
Friday, July 18: Remo Stars vs Enyimba
Final Day (Sunday, July 20):
3rd Place Match: 2nd Place Group A vs 2nd Place Group B
Final: Winner Group A vs Winner Group B
