From Moshood Karim

The spirit of football fever is sweeping through Edo South as Senator Neda Imasuen, representing the senatorial district at the National Assembly, has officially flagged off the Benin Unity Football Cup, a grassroots sporting revolution that promises to transform lives, unite communities, and restore Edo’s lost football glory.

The launch, held on Saturday, 24th October 2025, marked the beginning of what many described as “a new dawn for sports in Edo.” Sponsored entirely by the Senator, the month-long tournament will feature teams from the seven local government areas of the district, Oredo, Egor, Ikpoba-Okha, Orhionmwon, Uhumwonde, Ovia North-East, and Ovia South-West , in a fierce but friendly contest of skill, passion, and pride.

Beyond the excitement of competition, the Benin Unity Cup carries a deeper mission: to discover and nurture hidden football talents who could become the next Victor Osimhen or Jay-Jay Okocha. The tournament, scheduled to run from 20th November to 20th December 2025, will attract foreign scouts from Europe and the United States, who will be on the ground to spot and sign exceptional players for international opportunities.

Senator Imasuen, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, said his motivation came from a burning desire to empower young people and revive Edo’s historic football culture.

“This initiative is not about my position, but about helping our youths discover their purpose,” he said. “Edo is overflowing with untapped talents. We must harness these opportunities so that our young people can have dignity, respect, and pride in what they do.”

He added that the tournament was aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the sporting vision of Governor Monday Okpebholo, both of whom have emphasised youth empowerment as a pillar of sustainable development.

“Empowerment isn’t just about giving people jobs; it’s about helping them become who they are meant to be. Through sports, we can tackle unemployment, idleness, and restiveness among our youths,” Imasuen stressed.

The Director-General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Hon. Philip Shaibu, commended the senator’s vision, describing it as a legacy project that would “live beyond his tenure.” Shaibu pledged that the NIS would support the initiative by providing technical expertise and access to its training facilities for promising players.

Similarly, Edo Football Association Chairman, Fred Newton, hailed the tournament as “a ground-breaking legacy that will reposition Edo on the global football map.” He assured that international scouts had confirmed attendance for the matches, promising young players a real shot at professional exposure abroad.

At the event, the draws for the competition were also conducted. Group A features Ovia North-East, Ikpoba-Okha, Egor, and Uhumwonde, while Oredo One, Ovia South-West, Orhionmwon, and Oredo Two make up Group B.

To further boost motivation, the organisers announced mouth-watering cash prizes: N1 million for the winning team, N700,000 for the first runner-up, N500,000 for third place, and N300,000 for fourth place. In addition, each team will also get #100,000 mobilisation allowances.

Each of the eight teams will receive new sets of jerseys for 22 players, a symbolic gesture of unity and readiness for battle on the pitch.

But beyond the trophies and cash prizes, the tournament’s real victory lies in what it means for Edo South, an opportunity to channel youthful energy into purpose, creativity, and discipline. It’s a call to residents, communities, and football lovers across the district to rally behind an initiative that promises not only to produce stars but also to build peace and pride in the land.

As one young player from Ikpoba-Okha put it: “This is our chance to be seen, to be heard, and to become something great.”

With the Benin Unity Cup, Senator Imasuen is not just sponsoring football, he’s building dreams,
restoring hope, and writing a new chapter in Edo’s sporting story.

Moshood Karim is the Media Aide to Senator Neda Imasuen