Enyimba FC of Aba and Shooting Stars of Ibadan have officially resumed training in preparation for the 2024 Eko International Cup, a high-profile pre-season football tournament scheduled to hold in Lagos.
Both Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) sides began their respective training sessions last weekend, as they look to gradually build momentum for the upcoming competition featuring eight clubs.
The tournament is set to run from 6 to 13 July at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena (formerly Onikan Stadium), with two matches scheduled daily throughout the week-long event.
Organised by SKI-Hi Entertainment in partnership with the Lagos State Government, the competition aims to help clubs prepare for the new season while also providing entertainment for football fans during the off-season.
Four NPFL clubs have been confirmed for the tournament — Enyimba, Shooting Stars, Remo Stars, and Ikorodu City. The international representatives include FC Kallon of Sierra Leone and Ghanaian giants Heart of Oak.
Initially, FC Dadje of the Republic of Benin were also billed to feature, but the club pulled out last week due to a scheduling conflict, despite having recently won the Beninese league title.
Reacting to the withdrawal, Onome Obruthe, Executive Director for Publicity and Strategy at the Eko International Cup Local Organising Committee, assured fans that the competition would proceed as planned.
“We had some teams on standby in case of issues like this, and we are bringing them in once we tidy all discussions with their respective management teams,” Obruthe explained. “We are counting down already and can’t wait to get started. We are excited about the support coming from our partners and sponsors like MTN and Bigi Drinks.”
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