48 teams for CSL Easter Cup Youth tourney

CitySports League, an initiative of CitySports Africa, is set to host the first-ever Easter Cup Youth Football Tournament from April 18 to 19, in Lagos.

The organisation has held its tournament draws and announced final preparations for the competition which will feature 48 teams across Nigeria in a two-day event.

Speaking at the briefing, the CEO of CitySports Africa, Shola Opaleye, expressed excitement about the tournament’s potential impact on youth development.

“The Easter Cup is more than just a tournament, it is a talent development platform. We emphasise high-level organisation, media exposure, and structured competition to ensure participants have a professional experience. The kind that is offered by tournaments organised abroad. There are opportunities for players, coaches, professionals and industry stakeholders to network and interact with each other,” Opaleye said.

He added that the organisation aims to establish the Easter Cup as one of Africa’s premier youth football tournaments, providing young talents with exposure and access to global opportunities saying, “We hope to expand the tournament and strengthen our partnerships for even greater impact. We want to positively impact every child in Africa and every African child everywhere in the world.

“We’re deeply focused on development, not just competition. Every child deserves the chance to grow through sport. It’s not just about winning; it’s about building character, finding fulfilment, and becoming better with each game.”

Head of Development Programs at CitySports Africa, Bamidele Nurdeen, explained that the tournament format will feature 16 teams divided into four groups (A, B, C, and D), each group containing four teams. The competition will follow a round-robin group stage, leading to quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals.

The tournament will showcase talents in three age categories, the U-9, U-12, and U-15, designed to foster talent discovery, healthy competition, and youth empowerment through sport.

Public Relations Manager, CitySports Africa, Emmanuella Igomu, encouraged fan engagement through social media platforms.

“We invite fans to join the conversation using the hashtags #CitySportsEasterCup and #IamaCSLChallenger. It’s a great way to share experiences, cheer on teams, and interact with other football lovers,” Igomu said.

The tournament will take place at the Methodist Boys High School Playground in Victoria Island, Lagos, and entry is free to the public. Football enthusiasts, families, and community members are encouraged to attend and support the young footballers.

The event is supported by Indomie, Twisco, Complete Sports, Brila Media, and Lagoon Hospitals, Lagos. Established in 2019, CitySports Africa has built a reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading sports organisations, delivering quality development programmes that enhance athletic skills while fostering leadership qualities and community engagement.