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Grassrunners FC

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Revision as of 12:28, 14 October 2026 by wikipedia>Tosmicomsportsag (Added a section for 2026/2027 Squad)

Template:Infobox football club

Grassrunners FC is a Nigerian football club based in Sagamu, Ogun State. Founded in 2024, the club participates in Nigerian domestic competitions which includes the Nigeria Nationwide League, the N-Youth League and the Gold Cup Preseason Tourney.[1][2][3]

The club’s administrative office is in Sagamu, while its training camp is located in Ikenne, Ogun State.

Grassrunners FC won the 14th Ogunjobi Gold Cup Preseason Tournament in August 2026, in their first appearance in the competition. During the 2025/26 football season, the club also reached the final of the Nigeria Youth League Cup, finishing as runners-up.[4][5][6]

History

Grassrunners Football Club was established in 2024 in Ogun State, Nigeria.[7]

In August 2024, the club appointed Paul Offor as its head coach on a three-year contract. Offor had previously managed Sporting Lagos, guiding the club from the Nigeria National League to the Nigeria Premier Football League and at the time mutually parted ways with Kano Pillars FC. Offor will go on to lead the club in its maiden appearance in the Nationwide League One.[8]

In July 2025, after Offor left the club to join Akwa United, Grassrunners appointed former Shooting Stars Head coach and former Nigeria international Edith Olumide Agoye as head coach. Agoye signed a three-year contract, with his appointment taking effect on 1 August 2025.[9][7]

Nigeria Youth League Cup

Grassrunners competed in the 2025-26 Nigeria Youth League Cup reaching the Super 8 stage and subsequently advancing to the final where it lost to Sporting Supreme .

Grassrunners forward Abdoulaye Agbejoye emerged as joint top scorer alongside Habeeb Adewusi. Agbejoye was also named the tournament's best player.[10][11][12]

Ogunjobi Gold Cup

Grassrunners participated in the 14th Ogunjobi Gold Cup, a Nigerian pre-season tournament, in August 2026. The club made its debut in the competition and remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.

Grassrunners defeated Inter Lagos 2–0 during the group stage and moved to the top of the competition standings.

In the semi-final, Grassrunners defeated Sunshine Stars 3–1 to reach the final, with Agbejoye Papi scoring twice and Adeola Fadel adding the third goal.

The final was played against Abakaliki FC at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta on 22 August 2026. Grassrunners won 3–0 to claim the tournament.

The victory gave Grassrunners its first major tournament title. The club's coach, Daniel Itodo, subsequently dedicated the victory to the players and praised their performance during the competition.[5][4]

2026–27 squad

Below is the squad registered for the 2026–27 N-Youth League Cup season.[13]

Grassrunners FC 2026–27 squad
No. Player Position

41 Ahmod Shuiab Shola GK - 40 Nwanzi Gideon Chidera GK - 45 Chiemela Godswill GK - 39 Awe Seyi GK - 16 Agbejoye Mark Olamilekan CB - 74 Ogunrombi Boris CB - 31 Labode Faroukou Abdullahi CB - 6 Agbejoye Folly Bernard CB - 8 Fatai Olawale CM - 18 Morou Isilam DM - 81 Ajuwon Baki Akande DM - 53 Adetunji Daniel Ademola DM - 27 Nwokoma Chukwuebuka Fiz-patrick DM - 25 Adam Gafaru DM - 14 Yunusa Muhideen Olayinka AM - 20 Abdulwahab Abdulbasit Opeyemi AM - 28 Fatai Usman Daramola AM - 17 Yekini Abdullahi LB - 87 Okorafor Richard Ebuka LB - 3 Samsudeen Isiaq Alabi LB - 13 Lawrence Elvis LB - 12 Isiayei Shammah Edieni RB - 2 Nwose Emmanuel Bamiyei RB - 11 Ajibola Emmanuel Adeola LW - 32 Mohammed Abdulatif LW - 23 Adesanya Mosses Ogooluwa LW - 15 Ubi Sylvarnus Johnson RW - 22 Mousa Sadath RW - 76 Labode Giovanni RW - 42 Tijani Habeeb Adeshina RW - 7 Adelabu Timileyin Anuoluwa RWF - 36 Onu Nzubechukwu Joseph CF - 24 Emelobe Chidozie Fortune CF - 5 Abiodun Olasheni Abdulmumeen CF - 29 Lasisi Musa Olusegun CF - 75 Adeola Fadel Akani CF - 33 Atchikpa Juste Jordane CF - 50 Agbejoye Papi Adeola CF } Position abbreviations: GK = goalkeeper; CB = centre-back; CM = central midfielder; DM = defensive midfielder; AM = attacking midfielder; LB = left-back; RB = right-back; LW = left winger; RW = right winger; RWF = right wing-forward; CF = centre-forward.


Club products

Grassrunners has developed a number of players who have subsequently moved to clubs outside Nigeria. One of the most notable transfers was Angelo Hountondji Agbejoye, who joined Swedish club Djurgårdens IF in June 2026 on a five-year contract.

Djurgården announced that the Grassrunners FC product and right winger has signed a contract that extends over five years.[14]

Other players associated with Grassrunners FC who have moved to foreign leagues are Emmanuel Chukwu and Benjamin Precious, who moved to TSG Hoffenheim.[15]

Other Club Products

Emmanuel Chukwu TSG Hoffenheim, on loan to SC Austria Lustenau[16][17]
Benjamin Precious TSG Hoffenheim, on loan to SCR ALTACH[18]
Agbejoye Angelo Djurgårdens IF Fotboll[19]
Saidu Musa Bangura Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz
Otugo Chisom David Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz
Lendambi Bonaventure Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz
Abdu Omari Mandeke Riga FC
Godwin Rapheal Itotomi Stade Reims[20]
Adesanya Boluwatife Ibukunoluwa National Bank of Egypt SC
Labode Razak ENPPI SC
Taofeek Abdullah Oluwasegun Hartford Athletic

Management & Technical Personnel

Gbenga Agbejoye serves as the club's Chief Executive Officer, while Victor Adeola is the Executive Director and Bastian Sistemich the Technical Director.

Daniel Itodo who is the team's Head Coach was in charge of the team during its 2026 Ogunjobi Gold Cup campaign, guiding Grassrunners through to win the tournament in its debut appearance at the competition.[21][22]

Position Name
CEO Gbenga Agbejoye
Executive Director Victor Adeola
Technical Director Bastian Sistemich
Academy Director Edith Agoye
Head Coach Daniel Itodo
Operations Manager Pere Brownsford

References

  1. ↑ Adesanya, Taiwo (2026-01-20). "NLO: Dosu joins Grassrunners FC as goalkeeper trainer" (in en-US). https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/20/nlo-dosu-joins-grassrunners-fc-as-goalkeeper-trainer/. 
  2. ↑ Reporter, Our (2026-08-21). "Gold Cup Final: Grassrunners, Abakaliki FC clash in Abeokuta" (in en-US). https://thenationonlineng.net/gold-cup-final-grassrunners-abakaliki-fc-clash-in-abeokuta/. 
  3. ↑ "N-Youth League Cup" (in en). https://www.nylc.ng/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Fasetire, Sam O'Femi (2026-08-24). "Grassrunners FC's Coach Daniel Itodo Dedicates Ogunjobi Gold Cup Victory To His 'Hardworking Players'" (in en-US). https://www.sports247.ng/grassrunners-fcs-coach-daniel-itodo-dedicates-ogunjobi-gold-cup-victory-to-his-hardworking-players/. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Grassrunners Beat Abakaliki 3-0 to Win Ogunjobi Gold Cup | Africa Sport Network". https://www.africasport.net/article/football/grassrunners-fc-crowned-ogunjobi-gold-cup-champions-after-3-0-final-win. 
  6. ↑ SPORTS, BSN. "Grassrunners Defeat Abakaliki FC To Emerge Ogunjobi Gold Cup 14th Edition Champions". https://bsnsports.com.ng/post/-Grassrunners-Defeat-Abakaliki-FC-To-Emerge-Ogunjobi-Gold-Cup-14th-Edition-Champions. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Adesanya, Taiwo (2025-07-30). "NLO: Grassrunners FC appoint Agoye new head coach" (in en-US). https://dailypost.ng/2025/07/30/nlo-grassrunners-fc-appoint-agoye-new-head-coach/. 
  8. ↑ Adesanya, Taiwo (2024-08-26). "Paul Offor joins new club after Kano Pillars exit" (in en-US). https://dailypost.ng/2024/08/26/paul-offor-joins-new-club-after-kano-pillars-exit/. 
  9. ↑ "Grassrunners FC Appoints Edith Agoye as New Head Coach | Africa Sport Network". https://www.africasport.net/news/grassrunners-fc-appoints-former-shooting-stars-boss-edith-agoye-as-head-coach. 
  10. ↑ "N-Youth League Cup" (in en). https://nylc.ng/. 
  11. ↑ Akinbo, Peter (2026-06-05). "Sporting Supreme pocket N40m after N-YLC triumph" (in en-US). https://punchng.com/sporting-supreme-pocket-n40m-after-n-ylc-triumph/. 
  12. ↑ I, Admin (2026-06-02). "Sporting Supreme pip Grassrunners to win" (in en-US). Blueprint (Abuja, Nigeria). https://blueprint.ng/sporting-supreme-pip-grassrunners-to-win/. 
  13. ↑ "Grassrunners Football Club Squad". https://www.nylc.ng/club/110/grassrunners-football-club-1/squad. 
  14. ↑ "Välkommen till Djurgården, Angelo Agbejoye!" (in sv). https://www.dif.se/nyheter/2026/valkommen-till-djurgarden-angelo-agbejoye. 
  15. ↑ "Two promising Nigerians Chukwu and Benjamin join Akpoguma at Hoffenheim - Soccernet NG" (in en-NG). 2025-02-08. https://soccernet.ng/2025/02/two-promising-nigerians-chukwu-and-benjamin-join-akpoguma-at-hoffenheim.html. 
  16. ↑ Oyebola, Mike (2026-06-20). "Transfer: Chukwu completes loan switch to Austrian club, Lustenau" (in en-US). https://dailypost.ng/2026/06/20/transfer-chukwu-completes-loan-switch-to-austrian-club-lustenau/. 
  17. ↑ Hoffenheim, TSG 1899. "TSG loan Emmanuel Chukwu to Wolfsberger AC" (in en-US). https://www.tsg-hoffenheim.de/en/news/overview/2025/08/tsg-loan-emmanuel-chukwu-to-wolfsberger-ac. 
  18. ↑ Hoffenheim, TSG 1899. "Precious Benjamin moves on loan to SCR Altach until the end of the season" (in en-US). https://www.tsg-hoffenheim.de/en/news/overview/2026/01/precious-benjamin-bis-saisonende-zum-scr-altach-verliehen. 
  19. ↑ Areo, Samuel (2026-06-23). "Transfer: Djurgården announce Angelo Agbejoye signing" (in en-GB). https://www.aclsports.com/transfer-djurgarden-announce-angelo-agbejoye-signing/. 
  20. ↑ "Stade de Reims sign 18-year-old Nigerian defender - Soccernet NG" (in en-NG). 2026-08-05. https://soccernet.ng/2026/08/stade-de-reims-nigeria.html. 
  21. ↑ "How Coach Itodo Is Turning Grassrunners FC Into a Winning Machine" (in en-US). 2026-08-24. https://sportivationng.com/how-coach-itodo-is-turning-grassrunners-fc-into-a-winning-machine/. 
  22. ↑ Fasetire, Sam O'Femi (2026-08-24). "Grassrunners FC's Coach Daniel Itodo Dedicates Ogunjobi Gold Cup Victory To His 'Hardworking Players'" (in en-US). https://www.sports247.ng/grassrunners-fcs-coach-daniel-itodo-dedicates-ogunjobi-gold-cup-victory-to-his-hardworking-players/. 
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