According to the chair of IFC, barista Rotimi Ali and Folorunsho Oyelakin, Director of Media, IFC.
THE 88th edition of the oldest grassroots football festival in West Africa, Ibadan Football Council (IFC), kicks off on Valentine’s Day, Friday, February 14.
The 190-match competition will have 20 top teams jostling for the #2million naira cash prize and the Ibadan soccer title put on the line.
The teams that would fight to become the number one club in the city include defending champions, Karim Adeyemi FC, VIA Academy, De Pride FC, Police Baton FC, New Starlets FC, FC Young Stars, Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), Saky UTD, SDK FC, Adewale SC, 12 Alive FC, YK Abass FC, Marvelous FC, PSI FC, TEAFF FC, FC Peridot, Soccer Ambassadors, Abiola Babes, Dragon Fury and Unibadan FT. .
All 20 teams will play a whopping 190 matches in a round-robin league.
It is worthy of note that the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) won the trophy back-to-back in the 2019/20 and 2021/22 soccer seasons, but got dethroned by Marvelous FC, which put up a superlative performance to win the cup in the 2022/23 season.
Karim Adeyemi FC, on its debut in the Competition, clinched the trophy in a dramatic photo-finish, as the Championship did not produce the champion until the 190th match was played.
Two matches will be played daily throughout the duration of the competition, which serves as the scouting ground for football talents from all across the globe.
Meanwhile, participating teams are rounding off their preparations for the elite competition with Pre-Season matches being played within and outside the city.