The inaugural Benin Unity Cup roared into action on Thursday with a vibrant opening ceremony at the Crescent Football Club Sports Complex, Irhirhi, Benin City where colour, culture and raw football talent converged to usher in a new era of grassroots sport in Edo South.
Young athletes from the seven Local Government Areas of the district marched into a packed arena, setting the tone for a tournament designed to ignite unity, celebrate youth, and spotlight untapped football potential across the Benin nation. Running from 20 November to 20 December 2025, the competition has already been hailed as one of the most ambitious youth-centred sporting projects in the state in recent years.
Tournament sponsor and vision bearer, Senator Neda Imasuen, said the initiative was his way of giving back to the community while offering young people a clear pathway to opportunity. “This is not a one-time thing,” the Edo South lawmaker said. “We are building something that will continue every year, something intangible but powerful, a platform where talents can be discovered and nurtured.”
Senator Imasuen, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, said the goal was to uncover young stars who could go on to shape the national economy through sport. He revealed that football scouts from Sweden and other countries had already arrived in Benin City to monitor the tournament. “Football is now one of the biggest industries in the world,” he said. “We have an abundance of talent here in Edo State, but talent left idle slips away. We are here to awaken it.”
He commended the Local Organising Committee for its “steadfast effort” in bringing his vision to life and hinted at plans to invite international partners to future editions. “At the end of this tournament, something great will come out of this, I can assure you,” he added.
The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Desmond Amadin Enabulele, described the competition as “a timely intervention for youth development” and announced that the commission would begin deploying its scouts immediately. “Those discovered here must not be abandoned,” he said. “We will place them in our feeder teams or, where possible, open doors for them internationally. This tournament must become a pipeline of opportunity.”
Former Commissioner for Transportation and Tournament Coordinator, Hon. Orobosa Omo-Ojo, echoed the call for collective responsibility, urging political leaders in Edo South to emulate Senator Imasuen’s commitment to empowering young people. Edo FA Chairman, Mr Fred Newton Erhunmwense, went further, appealing to senators from Edo North and Central to invest in similar initiatives to keep youths engaged and off the path of crime.
The opening match between Ovia North-East and Ikpoba-Okha delivered the tournament’s first dose of drama. Both sides displayed exceptional flair, tactical discipline and sharp attacking bursts. Despite several goalmouth scrambles, near misses and stunning goal-line clearances, the contest ended goalless at full time, a fittingly tense start to what promises to be a fiercely competitive month of football.
With international scouts watching, political leaders investing, and communities rallying behind their teams, the Benin Unity Cup has already positioned itself as more than just a football tournament. It is a statement of purpose, a bold step toward channelling Edo’s abundant youth energy into a future of opportunity, development and shared pride.
