Dipo Olowookere
By Dipo Olowookere
Akwa United and Sporting Lagos have been unveiled as the wildcard teams for the 2023 edition of Naija Super 8 by the organisers of the competition.
The two teams were announced at Naija Super 8 draws broadcast live on SuperSport on Wednesday night.
They will join six other teams which earlier qualified for the finals of the football tournament fixed for July 7 to 16, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.
Wednesday’s draws were conducted by former Super Eagles player, Victor Ikpeba, and Bendel Insurance player, Okon Ini-Obong, who won the best goal at the just-concluded Naija Super 8 play-offs.
Sporting Lagos was drawn with current Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, Enyimba, Remo Stars and Katsina United in Group A, while Akwa United will slug it out with 2022 NPFL champions, Rivers United, Yobe Desert Stars and Lobi Stars in Group B.
Each of the teams will be mentored at the tournament by Super Eagles and NPFL legends, Victor Ikpeba, Ike Shorunmu, Julius Aghahowa, Tijani Babangida, Mutiu Adepoju, Victor Ezeji, Jonathan Akpoborie and Garba Lawal.
The top two teams in each group will go into the semi-finals, with the winners proceeding to the final.
Clubs will earn N3 million per match at the group stage, with semi-finalists also earning an additional N3 million for qualifying. The runners-up will earn N9 million, while the winners will go home with N25 million.
All Naija Super 8 matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport Football (DStv ch 205 & GOtv ch 61). Naija Super 8 is organised by Flykite Productions in partnership with MultiChoice Nigeria and sponsors, MTN, Hero Lager, DStv, GOtv, SuperSport, Moniepoint, Pepsi and Custodian Assurance.
