The Ibom Preseason Tournament will bring together six teams from October 12 to 20, 2026, as clubs prepare for the new Nigeria National League (NNL) season.
The tournament is the brainchild of Akwa United FC and Godswill Akpabio United FC, with the Akwa Ibom State Football Association involved in coordinating the competition.
The organisers expect the tournament to attract strong support from football fans across the state, with exciting matches expected throughout the competition.
Other participating teams are Rovers United FC, Abia Comets FC, KMK Football Academy and Blessed Stars Football Club.
Akwa United, Godswill Akpabio United, Rovers United and Abia Comets will use the competition to prepare their squads for the upcoming NNL season.
Meanwhile, KMK Football Academy and Blessed Stars FC, two of the leading academies in Akwa Ibom State, will have the opportunity to test their players against more experienced opposition.
The tournament will follow a league format, with each team playing three group matches. The four teams with the highest points will advance to the semi-finals.
The opening matches will take place on Monday, October 12 at the Uyo Township Stadium. Godswill Akpabio United will face Abia Comets at 8am. KMK Football Academy will meet Blessed Stars FC at 10am while Akwa United will take on Rovers United at 4pm.
The second round of matches will be played on Wednesday, October 14, with Akwa United facing KMK Football Academy, Godswill Akpabio United meeting Blessed Stars FC, and Rovers United taking on Abia Comets.
The final group matches are scheduled for Friday, October 16. Blessed Stars FC will meet Rovers United. Abia Comets will face KMK Football Academy while Akwa United will play Godswill Akpabio United.
The semi-finals will take place on Sunday, October 18. The team that finishes first on the table will face the fourth-placed team, while the second-placed team will meet the third-placed side.
The final is scheduled for Tuesday, October 20, at 3:00 p.m., when the two semi-final winners will compete for the trophy.
The tournament is expected to provide valuable match experience for the participating teams while giving football fans in Akwa Ibom State an opportunity to enjoy competitive football ahead of the new season.
