Lagos was buzzing with unparalleled talent and creative energy last weekend at the Predator Energy Freestyle Football Championship 2025. It was a true honour to witness this spectacular gathering of Nigeria’s most skilled freestyle footballers.
After a series of breathtaking performances and intense battles, BlessedChild Ezeakabudu and Evelyn Okafor defended their titles as champions in the male and female categories respectively.
I am immensely grateful to everyone who showed up and supported the event, including the Director-General of the National Institute of Sports, His Excellency Comrade Philip Shaibu; Executive Committee Member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and FIFA Media and Communications Committee Member, Aisha Falode; Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor, Dr Angel Adelaja-Kuye, who surprised the female finalists with additional cash rewards; Director of Transcorp Energy, Chris Ezeafulukwe; and veteran media personalities Olisa Adibua and Aziza Uko, Dom Lawson and Godwin Nwanagu, all Board Members of Feet’ N’ Tricks International.
Others are Benson Oraelosi, former MD/CEO of Diamond Bank (Francophone West Africa); Kinglsey Umadia, former Executive Director of Ecobank; the MD of Afriland Properties Plc, Azubuike Emodi; Mrs Beatrice Eneh, MD/CEO of Apples and Oranges Limited; Frederick Onwuka, Senior Regional Marketing Manager, West Africa, Monster Energy Europe Limited – EMEA; Aimanohi Ogun, Marketing Lead, Nigeria, Predator Energy; Nollywood actress and producer Nkiru Umeh; singer Abiodun Koya; and Oraka Nnanyelu, the Managing Director of Feet ‘N’ Tricks International, who has been instrumental to every step of the success of the day’s event.
A special shout out to Ashley Mkhize (South Africa), Larry Etuduvwun (Nigeria), and Soufiane Msalek (Morocco), for bringing their experience and professionalism to the fore as judges for the competition.
This world-class experience was made possible Predator Energy, in partnership with the World Freestyle Football Association (WFFA), supported by our visionary team at Feet ‘N’ Tricks International.
To all the freestylers who participated in this tournament, you are all champions in your own right. The future of Nigerian sports is incredibly bright, and we cannot wait to see our national champion represent us on the world stage next year.
Thank you to everyone who made this dream a reality. The journey continues!
