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Aiyegbeni, Ikpeba, Disu Others, Set For Ex Internationals Set for Touchline Battles

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The NIS Hall in Lagos buzzed with nostalgia and anticipation on Friday as the Bet9ja Foundation Ex Internationals Cup held its official draw.

Former Super Eagles stars, community leaders, and grassroots football stakeholders gathered under one roof, eager to see how the competition would unfold. For many in the room, it felt like a reunion of old teammates and rivals, now returning to football in a new role: mentors and community ambassadors. The draw marked the start of a tournament designed not just to entertain, but to reconnect Nigeria’s football legends with the places that first shaped them.

Read Also: Ibadan Ex-internationals’ May 31st Exhibition Match Gains More Intensity, As Kola Ige Joins Build-up Hype

This year’s competition will be played on a strict home-and-away basis, a deliberate choice to take the games to the communities of the ex internationals.

The defining feature of the Ex Internationals Cup is the adoption system. Every ex-international has adopted a team from their community and will serve as patron and mentor.

When the draw began, the hall came alive with applause and cheers as pairings were revealed. FC Ekpo will face FC Ipaye, FC Amoo takes on FC Ogunlade, and FC Agali squares up against FC Oloyede. Further down the list, FC Ayila meets FC Agu, FC Poto battles FC Odiaka, and FC Giwa clashes with FC Temile. Each fixture carries a personal story, linking a former international’s name to a community club and setting up derbies with real emotional weight. For the fans, it’s a chance to see names they grew up idolizing now shaping the next generation.

Some of the most eye-catching ties include FC Akanni vs FC Dominic, FC Babington vs FC Dosu, and FC Disu vs FC Enegwea. These matchups bring together players who once shared dressing rooms for Nigeria, now facing off from opposite dugouts in their adopted communities. FC Odinni vs FC Ikpeba and FC Edema vs FC Nieketin promise similar intrigue, pitting former teammates against each other in a battle for local bragging rights. The format ensures that every community gets a home game, turning each fixture into a mini-festival of football and culture.

Other pairings underline the national spread of the tournament. FC Udeze vs FC Ugbade, FC Atine vs FC Obafemi, and FC Oguntuase vs FC Omoruyi will see action across different regions, while FC Aiyegbeni vs FC Elaho and FC Okpara vs FC Agbai complete the lineup Hosting matches in the ex-internationals’ communities also means improved visibility for local pitches, schools, and youth academies that rarely get national attention.

Speaking after the draw, organizers explained that the tournament is about more than just football. It’s a development platform aimed at rebuilding grassroots structures, reigniting local fan culture, and creating pathways for young players to be scouted. By bringing the games home, the Bet9ja Foundation hopes to stimulate local economies, encourage community pride, and give young players a stage to perform in front of people who matter to them. The ex-internationals themselves have embraced the responsibility, many describing it as a full-circle moment in their careers.

As the first round approaches, excitement is building in the communities tied to these fixtures.. The Bet9ja Foundation Ex Internationals Cup is set to turn familiar local pitches into stages for high-stakes football, mentorship, and community celebration.

The Full Fixtures:

FC Ekpo Vs FC Ipaye
FC Amoo Vs FC Ogunlade
FC Agali Vs FC Oloyede
FC Ayila Vs FC Agu
FC Poto Vs FC Odiaka
FC Giwa Vs FC Temile
FC Akanni Vs FC Dominic
FC Babington Vs FC Dosu
FC Disu Vs FC Enegwea
FC Odinni Vs FC Ikpeba
FC Edema Vs FC Nieketin
FC Udeze Vs FC Ugbade
FC Atine Vs FC Obafemi
FC Oguntuase Vs FC Omoruyi
FC Aiyegbeni Vs FC Elaho
FC Okpara Vs FC Agbai

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Plateau Information Min, PLASCHEMA, NUJ Chairman, PLASMIDA, Dr Okoko Gets Recognition at 2026 World Social Media Event

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The Plateau Bloggers and Online Media Association (PLABOMA) honoured outstanding individuals and organisations for their contributions to digital communication, public engagement and community development during the 2026 World Social Media Day celebration held at the Usiju World Event Center in Jos.

The award presentation was one of the major highlights of the event, which was held under the theme, “Digital Voices: Innovation, Creativity and Youth Engagement.” According to the association, the recognition was aimed at celebrating excellence in the use of social media to inspire positive change and promote development.

Among the recipients were the Plateau State Ministry of Information and Communication, which received an Award of Excellence for Media Advancement; PLASMIDA, which received an Award of Excellence for Youth Empowerment and Development; PLASCHEMA, which received an Award of Excellence for the effective use of social media to promote public health; NUJ Plateau State Council Chairman, Mrs. Ayuku Pwaspo, who was honoured as a Media Icon; and Dr. Godwin Okoko, Executive Director of Bege Foundation, who received an Award of Excellence for Youth Engagement and Impact. They were all recognised for their outstanding contributions to the digital media space.

Speaking at the event, PLABOMA Chairman, Chief Matthew Oyerinde Tegha, said the awards were instituted to appreciate individuals and organisations leveraging digital platforms to educate, inform and positively influence society.

“Today, we celebrate those who have demonstrated that social media can be a tool for innovation, responsible communication and sustainable development. Their contributions continue to inspire a more vibrant and impactful digital community,” he said.

The event also featured the unveiling of PLABOMA’s Unified Bloggers Website, a platform designed to connect over 30 active bloggers, strengthen credible online journalism, and promote Plateau State’s tourism, culture and investment opportunities.

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APC chieftain, Ayekooto demands investigation as PFIPC controversy indicts top govt officials

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A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ayekooto Akindele has called for an in-depth investigation into the controversy surrounding the formation of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC.

DAILY POST reports that following an allegation of bribe leveled against President Bola Tinubu’s chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila by the self-acclaimed Director General of PFIPC, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, the presidency had disowned the agency and the accuser.

However, Adeyemi in an interview with Channels TV on Thursday night, insisted that his appointment was legit, alleging that the Chief of Staff was privy to all his operations.

Reacting, Ayekooto in a statement on his official X handle on Friday, expressed certainty that Adeniyi must have collaborators in and outside the government.

“One thing is clear Prince Adeniyi has collaborators within and outside the government”, he wrote.

He called on authorities to investigate top offices, including the office of the Director General of Budget for allegedly allocating money to the fake agency, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN for creating account for for the PFIPC and the Inspector General of Police, IGP for providing police protection for Adeyemi.

He wrote, “Now, we know one MIMI ABU who is a Director in Head of Service of the Federation office signed an approval letter on behalf of head of service to employ staff for a non existent government agency.

“By now, the DG Budget who prepared the 2026 National budget should tell us why he allocated money to a non existent presidential council, CBN Governor, Accountant General of the Federation should tell us the documents they relied on to open accounts for Mr Mathew Adeniyi.

“How come Nigeria Police gave Mr Matthew Adeyemi orderly and police protection throughout his scam activities.

“Civil Servants in SGF and Head of Service offices who gave him office keys in the Federal Secretariat must tell us on whose instruction they acted”.

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