The 2026 edition of the 9jaboy grassroot football tournament will kick off with 16 teams vying for honour in Lagos on Wednesday as part of efforts to discover young talents and promote youth development.
The tournament, which is an initiative of popular travel creator and media personality, McDolly Ogundana, widely known as The9jaboy, is designed to provide opportunities for young footballers to showcase their talents while encouraging discipline, community engagement, and positive youth participation.
Speaking ahead of the kickoff, the organisers said the initiative reflected the brand’s commitment to investing in grassroots development beyond digital content creation and travel advocacy.
They noted that the tournament would bring together football lovers, community leaders, and residents, particularly from Ebute Metta, Lagos, where the founder hails from.
The9jaboy has gained popularity for documenting African travel experiences and promoting global mobility for Nigerians and Africans through digital storytelling, documentaries, and travel-related content.
The organisers added that, “The football tournament formed part of the company’s broader community development projects aimed at empowering young people and creating platforms for emerging talents.
“This initiative is beyond football. It is about creating opportunities, inspiring young people, and showing that talent from the grassroots deserves visibility and support.”
The organisers further disclosed that the brand has lined up other major projects for 2026, including a West African overland expedition, a Greenland documentary project, and the release of a book documenting lessons from travels across more than 129 countries.
“The tournament is expected to attract football enthusiasts and supporters from different parts of Lagos during the five-day competition,” he added.
The competition, which started last year in Lagos State, was witnessed by Nigerian football enthusiasts across the country.
