Gold Cup Preseason
| Organiser(s) | Tunde Shamsudeen |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2012 |
| Region | Nigeria and West Africa |
| Teams | Varies |
| Current champions | Sporting Lagos |
| Most championships | NA |
Gold Cup Preseason
The Gold Cup Preseason, also known at various times as the Optima Energy Gold Cup and the Ogunjobi Gold Cup Preseason for sponsorship reasons, is an annual football preseason tournament held in Nigeria. The competition features clubs primarily from the Nigeria Professional Football League and other professional divisions in Nigeria, with occasional participation from clubs in other West African countries.[1][2][3][4]
Founded and coordinated by Nigerian football administrator Tunde Shamsudeen, the tournament serves as a preparatory competition for professional clubs ahead of the Nigerian football season. Over the years it has developed into one of Nigeria's prominent elite preseason competitions, with participation from several top clubs including Enyimba F.C., Kano Pillars F.C., Rivers United F.C., Shooting Stars S.C., Rangers International F.C.and Remo Stars F.C.[5][6]
The tournament has been staged for over a decade, reaching its 13th edition in 2025.[7]
History
The Gold Cup Preseason was established as a preparatory football tournament for Nigerian professional clubs ahead of the domestic league season. The competition was founded and coordinated by Nigerian football administrator Tunde Shamsudeen, with the aim of providing competitive match experience for clubs before the start of league campaigns.[8]
Over the years, the tournament has grown to become one of the prominent preseason competitions in Nigerian club football, attracting teams from the top tiers of the country's football pyramid as well as clubs from neighbouring West African countries. Prominent Nigerian clubs such as Enyimba F.C., Kano Pillars F.C., Rangers International F.C., Rivers United F.C., Shooting Stars S.C., Sporting Lagos and Remo Stars F.C. have participated in different editions of the tournament.
The competition has also featured teams from outside Nigeria, including Association Sportive de la Vallée de l’Ouémé (ASVO), highlighting its regional appeal within West African football.[9][10]
Different editions of the tournament have been held under various sponsorship titles. These include the Optima Energy Gold Cup and the Ogunjobi Gold Cup Preseason Tournament, the latter organised in honour of former Nigerian football administrator Taiwo Ogunjobi.
The tournament has also attracted partnerships with corporate organisations and sports brands over the years, contributing to its development and visibility within Nigerian football. By 2025, the Gold Cup Preseason had reached its 13th edition, featuring clubs from Nigeria's professional leagues and serving as a preparatory competition ahead of the domestic football season[11][12]
Notable Participants
Several prominent Nigerian clubs have participated in the Gold Cup Preseason including Enyimba F.C., Kano Pillars F.C., Rangers International F.C., Rivers United F.C., Shooting Stars S.C., Sporting Lagos, Lobi Stars and Remo Stars F.C and clubs from neighbouring countries such as Association Sportive de la Vallée de l’Ouémé (ASVO)
See also
References
- ^ Reporter, Our (2025-10-17). "2025 Gold Cup: FC Ebedei pips 10-man Sunshine Stars". The Nation. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-03-15.
- ^ "Remo Stars academy, Beyond Limits beats NPFL sides to win Gold Cup Preseason Tourney". Pulse Sports Kenya. 2023-08-20. Retrieved 2026-03-15.
- ^ Eludini, Tunde; Omoniyi, Oluwaferanmi (17 December 2021). "MFM FC to tackle Remo Stars as Nigerian League resumes in Lagos". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-03-15.
- ^ "2025 Gold Cup Tournament Scheduled for October at FC Ebedei Stadium | Africa Sport Network". www.africasport.net. Retrieved 2026-03-15.
- ^ "Lobi Stars Confirm Participation in 13th Gold Cup Pre-Season Tournament | Africa Sport Network". www.africasport.net. Retrieved 2026-03-15.
- ^ Rapheal (2024-08-05). "Made In Africa Sports, Optima Energy Gold Cup Seal Partnership". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-03-15.
- ^ Idoko, Pius (2025-09-22). "Gold Cup 13th Edition Gets Kick-Off Date". Continental News. Retrieved 2026-03-15.
- ^ Editor (2021-10-29). "Ogunjobi's Family, Optima Energy Rep, Osun FA Boss, NPFL Club Owners Secretary To Grace Ogunjobi Gold Cup Final". Sports247 Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-03-15.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Sofascore (17 August 2024). "Ijebu United FC vs Asvo Fc live score, H2H results, standings and prediction". Sofascore. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ Ochicha, Lovette (2024-08-22). "Optima Energy Gold Cup: ASVO FC Will Be Ambitious Against Shooting Stars - Fatai Osho". Sports247 Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-03-15.
- ^ Sofascore. "Gold Cup Pre-season Tournament standings, fixtures, results and stats". Sofascore. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ Africa, kick442 com (2024-08-18). "Optima Energy Gold Cup: Beyond Limits Zoom To Semi-Final". KICK442 Sport News. Retrieved 2026-03-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)