The Organising Committee of the fifth edition of the Prof. Akin Oyebode Cup (PAOC 2026) has announced a strategic partnership with Afriskaut, a leading African football scouting and talent identification platform, in a move designed to expand opportunities for young footballers in the tournament.
The collaboration is expected to strengthen the competition’s talent development framework by improving players’ visibility to scouts, clubs, agents, academies and other key stakeholders within both African and international football networks.
Organisers said the partnership reinforces the tournament’s long-standing objective of creating pathways for promising young players to transition from grassroots football to professional opportunities.
“The Prof. Akin Oyebode Cup was established not only to provide competitive football but also to create genuine opportunities for young talents,” the organisers said in a statement. “Partnering with Afriskaut strengthens our ability to connect deserving players with life-changing opportunities beyond the competition. This is truly a partnership made in heaven.”
Through Afriskaut’s scouting and talent-tracking technology, standout performers at PAOC 2026 will gain enhanced exposure to talent identifiers and decision-makers across the global football ecosystem.
Since its inception, the Prof. Akin Oyebode Cup has grown into one of Ekiti State’s most prominent grassroots football competitions, widely recognised for promoting discipline, education, professionalism and community development alongside sport.
The 2026 edition, themed “Building to Last,” will mark the tournament’s fifth anniversary and feature youth teams representing the 16 Local Football Councils (LFCs) across Ekiti State. The event will also include a pre-tournament capacity-building seminar focused on professionalism as well as the rules and regulations guiding grassroots football development.
Organisers expressed appreciation to Afriskaut for supporting the vision of the competition, reiterating their commitment to ensuring that talented young players are properly identified, documented and connected to meaningful career pathways.
