Spires 5-Aside season 3 registration opens as qualifiers set for April

Organizers have announced that the Divisional Qualifiers for the 2026 edition of the Spires 5-Aside Naija Street Soccer Tournament will kick off in April across the five divisions of Lagos State.

The roadmap for the third season was revealed during a well-attended press briefing in Lagos on Sunday, highlighting a significant expansion in player empowerment initiatives beyond the football pitch.

Effective immediately, teams wishing to participate in this year’s tournament can register through the official website, spires5aside.ng. A key requirement for entry is that all teams must be affiliated with the Lagos State Football Association via their respective Divisional Football Associations (DFAs).

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In a major change for this season, the age restrictions for players have been removed, opening the competition to participants older than 19 and broadening the talent pool.

The “Tech-Meet-Sports” initiative, first introduced in 2025, will continue this year. The program, which offers players training in modern skills outside of football, will feature collaborations with tech professionals.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn about artificial intelligence, machine learning, coding, and graphic design.

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Dr. Bankole Allibay, the tournament’s initiator, addressed the briefing virtually from the United States. He expressed his commitment to building on the success of previous editions and continuously raising the tournament’s standards.

“We are excited at the prospect of every edition of the tournament. You can be rest assured that season 3 will surpass what we have done in the past in all ramifications,” he stated.

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The governance and environmental expert also urged brands and corporate organizations to support the event, which has been self-funded since its inception.

The 2025 edition saw Lagos Island-based club White Tigers crowned champions, taking home the N5 million grand prize.