Four Nigerian clubs will participate in the 2025 Viareggio Cup in Italy. This U18 tournament, held since 1948, provides an excellent platform for young footballers to showcase their talent.
For the first time last year, two African teams faced each other in the final. Ikenne-based Beyond Limits Football Academy defeated Centre National Football Brazzaville from Congo to claim the title.
Additionally, all four semi-finalists were African teams, including Nigerian clubs Ojodu City FC and Mavlon FC, who were eliminated before reaching the final.
This year, the tournament will take place from March 17 to March 31, 2025. Nigerian clubs Ojodu City FC and Mavlon FC will return to the competition, joined by Ijele FC and Magic Stars.
In total, 24 teams will compete, but last year’s champions, Beyond Limits, will not participate due to their inability to assemble a strong squad.
Many young players from last year’s tournament have since secured transfers to European clubs. Ojodu City’s top scorer, Hafiz Umar Ibrahim, joined Stade Reims, while Beyond Limits striker Kparobo Arierhi moved to Norway’s Lillestrøm.
Another Beyond Limits player, Adeshina Ayodele, transferred to Lille in France, and Mavlon FC’s forward, Charles Agada, signed with Croatian club NK Istra 1961.
Participation in the Viareggio Cup requires a €25,000 registration fee per team. Additionally, teams must cover their own expenses in Italy, including travel, accommodation, and daily costs.
Despite the high costs, African clubs view this tournament as an investment opportunity, hoping for lucrative transfer deals.
However, scouting teams tend to focus on clubs that progress far in the competition.
This means that for teams eliminated in the early stages, the financial investment may not always yield the expected returns.
GROUP A
Group 1: Fiorentina (Italy), Red Star (Serbia), Imolese (Italy), Mavlon (Nigeria)
Group 2: Genoa (Italy), Internacional (Brazil), Perugia (Italy), Ijele (Nigeria)
Group 3: Sassuolo (Italy), Apia Leichhardt (Australia), Casarano (Italy), Magic Stars (Nigeria)
GROUP B
Group 4: Torino (Italy), Asteras Aktor (Greece), Pontedera (Italy), Ojodu City (Nigeria)
Group 5: Sampdoria (Italy), Jóvenes Promesas (Spain), Westchester United (United States), Berekum Chelsea (Ghana)
Group 6: Serie D Representatives (Italy), Rukh (Ukraine), Uyss New York (United States), Olympique Thiessois (Senegal)