For decades, many of Nigeria’s most talented female footballers have relied on national team call-ups to attract international attention. The Lagos Queens Cup hopes to change that.
The inaugural tournament, which runs from 8 to 11 July 2026 at the Legacy Pitch in Surulere, Lagos, has been created as Nigeria’s first football competition dedicated entirely to scouting, offering players direct exposure to European clubs.
Scouts from Finland and Sweden are expected to attend the four-day event, where eight leading teams—including FC Robo Queens, Dannaz FC, Victory FA, CATS Ladies, Ayisat Yusuf Football Academy, Dreamstar Ladies, Nakamura FA and the Asisat Oshoala Academy—will compete for more than silverware.
For many players, the tournament could represent an opportunity to secure professional careers abroad without first earning international recognition with Nigeria’s national teams.
“Our girls should not have to wait for a national team call-up to access international opportunities,” tournament founder Ibidoyin Aina said.
“The Lagos Queens Cup is more than a football tournament. It is Nigeria’s first dedicated women’s football scouting event, designed to ensure talented players are discovered because of their ability.”
Aina believes the initiative can reshape the women’s football landscape by connecting Nigerian talent directly with professional clubs while strengthening relationships between local football and Europe.
Organisers also hope the competition will establish Lagos as one of Africa’s leading destinations for women’s football talent identification.
Whether it becomes a launchpad for the country’s next generation of stars may become clearer when the first whistle blows on 8 July. the Lagos Queens Cup represents another step in the growing investment in women’s football across Nigeria.
The tournament is proudly supported by the Lagos State Football Association, 36 Lion Investment, Herizon Sports Initiative, Ayisat Yusuf Football Foundation, Diego Nakamura, Ivory Health Club, and the Africa Football Empowerment Congress.
