Akwa United, Godswill Akpabio United Headline Six-Team Ibom Pre-Season Tournament

Posted : 12 October 2026

Akwa United and Godswill Akpabio United will lead the challenge for honours as six clubs converge on Uyo for the 2026 Ibom Pre-season Tournament, scheduled to run from Oct. 12 to 20.

The competition is expected to provide a crucial test for participating clubs, particularly the four teams preparing for the new Nigeria National League (NNL) season.

The tournament is a joint initiative of Akwa United FC and Godswill Akpabio United FC, with the Akwa Ibom State Football Association supporting the coordination of the event.

The other participating teams are Rovers United FC, Abia Comets FC, KMK Football Academy and Blessed Stars Football Club.

While Akwa United, Godswill Akpabio United, Rovers United and Abia Comets will use the competition to assess their squads ahead of the NNL campaign, KMK Football Academy and Blessed Stars will seek to test their players against more experienced opposition.

All matches will be played in a league format, with each team featuring in three group-stage fixtures. The four highest-ranked teams will advance to the semi-finals.

The tournament will kick off on Monday, Oct. 12, at the Uyo Township Stadium, with Godswill Akpabio United facing Abia Comets at 8 a.m.

KMK Football Academy will take on Blessed Stars at 10 a.m., before Akwa United meet Rovers United in the day's final fixture at 4 p.m.

The second round of matches is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 14, featuring Akwa United against KMK Football Academy, Godswill Akpabio United versus Blessed Stars, and Rovers United against Abia Comets.

The group stage will conclude on Friday, Oct. 16, when Blessed Stars face Rovers United, Abia Comets meet KMK Football Academy, and Akwa United take on Godswill Akpabio United.

The semi-finals will be held on Sunday, Oct. 18, with the group winners facing the fourth-placed team, while the second- and third-placed teams will meet in the other fixture.

The two semi-final winners will compete for the trophy on Tuesday, Oct. 20, with the final scheduled for 3 p.m.

Beyond the race for the title, the tournament will give participating teams an opportunity to assess their tactical readiness, improve match fitness and identify areas that require attention before the new season.

It will also provide emerging players from the two academies with a platform to showcase their abilities against established league opposition, while offering football enthusiasts in Akwa Ibom an early taste of competitive action ahead of the 2026/2027 campaign.

Akwa United, Godswill Akpabio United Headline Six-Team Ibom Pre-Season Tournament

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