Tonic FC win 1XCup 2026 on penalties, take home ₦10m prize
- Tonic FC of Ikorodu beat Young Strikers 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 final in Oshodi, Lagos.
- The debutants collected the ₦10m winner's prize; Young Strikers got ₦5m as runners-up.
- Odion Ighalo watched the final and urged government to back grassroots football.
Tonic FC of Ikorodu are the champions of the 1XCup 2026, beating Young Strikers of Lagos Island 4-2 on penalties in Saturday's final at the Inspire Sports Arena, Cappa, Oshodi, Lagos.
The match had ended 0-0 after regulation and added time, so the trophy and the ₦10 million winner's prize were settled from the spot. Tonic's goalkeeper saved two of Young Strikers' kicks, according to ThisDay.
It was a cautious final between two sides that had defended well all tournament. ThisDay reported that the Islanders created more chances but were let down by poor finishing, which cost them the top prize. Young Strikers took home ₦5 million as runners-up.
How they got to the final
Tonic, making their debut in the competition, beat Joy Cometh FC 2-1 in the quarter-finals and JP Young Stars by the same score in the semi-finals. Young Strikers had shown their attacking threat with a 4-1 win over Emiloju FC in the quarters but could not repeat that form in the final.
In the third-place match, JP Young Stars beat Collins Edwin SC 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw, collecting the ₦3 million bronze prize. Collins Edwin had fought back from two goals down to level the game.
Former Super Eagles and Manchester United forward Odion Ighalo was among the spectators. He praised the organisers for backing grassroots football and said such tournaments help uncover the next generation of Nigerian stars.
"We need tournaments like this to identify good players and discover the next Victor Osimhen," Ighalo said, according to ThisDay.
He also asked government at all levels to support football and other sports through regular competitions, community teams and better facilities.
Others at the final included Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; Anthony Zulu Adeboye, Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports to President Bola Tinubu; Lagos State Sports Commission Director-General Lekan Fatodu; Chief Yemi Idowu of Maracana, Lagos; and Lagos FA chairman Liameed Gaffar.
What happens next
For the players, the prize money and the scouts in the stands matter more than the trophy. Grassroots tournaments like this are one of the few routes for young Nigerians hoping to be seen by bigger clubs, and Ighalo's call puts pressure on sports authorities to fund more of them.
