Organisers announce kickoff date for first national university 5-A-Side football tournament

The stage is set for Nigeria’s first national university 5-A-Side football tournament, with eight institutions competing in the inaugural Monieball 5-A-Side scheduled to run from 8-31 October.

The University of Ilorin and Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, will serve as host venues for the group stage matches.

The competition format features group stage round robins, semi-final knockouts, and a grand final in Lagos on 31 October.

As revealed during a press parley in Lagos on Friday, Group A consists of the University of Ilorin, University of Calabar, University of Uyo and Abia State University.

Group B includes Adekunle Ajasin University, University of Ibadan, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and Federal University Oye-Ekiti.

Matches will be played under standard 5-A-Side rules, with two 25-minute halves and five substitutions permitted per team. Organisers say the event will combine football, entertainment and campus culture, with live commentary, DJs and live streaming to engage a wider audience.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, Anastasia Igbokidi Head of Brand at Moniepoint, said the initiative was designed to provide a platform for students to showcase their talent while connecting them with opportunities beyond football.

“It’s a new day, we’re going to kick it off officially. This Monieball 5-A-Side event is a very intentional plan. We really want to get close to the young people, to the students,” she said.

According to her, the tournament is rooted in the passion Nigerians have for football, particularly on campuses.

“We also recognise they love their passion for football. So we decided to bring them closer to what they love. And also have them reward it,” she added.

Ms Igbokidi-Okafor revealed that the competition will come with trophies and financial rewards, though the prize money will be unveiled during the tournament.

She emphasised that the long-term vision is not only about the games, but also about meaningful engagement with young Nigerians.

“A lot of people had dreams of going into professional football. Maybe they didn’t have the opportunity. But now with the Monieball five-a-side tournament, we’re giving them a platform where they’re not just playing, but they’re also being rewarded,” she explained.

She also confirmed that brand ambassador Victor Osimhen is keen on supporting the competition despite currently recovering from injury.

“He’s very excited about this. He has a lot of messages for the young people and we’ll be rolling those out as we go on,” she said.

The finals on 31 October in Lagos are expected to crown Nigeria’s first university 5-A-Side champions, marking what organisers hope will become a new tradition in campus sports.