CAF-Certified Venues Ready As Gold Cup Returns for 14th Edition

CAF-Certified Venues Ready As Gold Cup Returns for 14th Edition

By BSN Sports 

Sporting Lagos will begin the defence of their Gold Cup title when the 2026 edition of Nigeria's premier pre-season football tournament kicks off on August 13, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The 10-day competition, now in its 14th edition, will run until August 22 and will be staged at the Confederation of African Football (CAF)-certified Remo Stars International Stadium in Ikenne and the FC Ebedei Stadium in Apele-Sagamu, Ogun State.

Fresh from securing promotion back to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Sporting Lagos will be aiming to become only the second club, after Remo Stars, to successfully defend the Gold Cup title.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, the General Coordinator of the Gold Cup, Tunde Shamsudeen, said organisers are looking forward to another competitive edition featuring clubs from across Nigeria's football pyramid.

"We're excited to announce the kickoff date. It's always special to see top NPFL teams compete against one another or face ambitious lower-division sides capable of producing major upsets," Shamsudeen said.

He noted that the tournament has continued to fulfil its primary objective of helping clubs prepare for the new football season.

"Our goals remain the same. The Gold Cup provides a competitive platform for teams across Nigeria's three-tier league structure to fine-tune their squads ahead of the new campaign.

"We're confident the 2026 edition will build on the successes of previous tournaments and deliver another memorable competition," he added.

Since its inception, the Gold Cup has grown into one of Nigeria's leading pre-season tournaments, attracting clubs from different divisions seeking competitive preparation ahead of the domestic football season.

Former champions of the competition include Sunshine Stars, Sharks FC, Kano Pillars, Lobi Stars, Niger Tornadoes, ABS Ilorin, Remo Stars, Beyond Limits and Shooting Stars.