Gold Cup 2026: Grassrunners, Abakaliki battle Sunshine Stars, Ikorodu City for final ticket

The semi-final stage of the 14th edition of the Gold Cup pre-season tournament takes centre stage today (Thursday) at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, Ogun State, with Grassrunners FC, Sunshine Stars, Abakaliki FC and Ikorodu City battling for places in the final.

New boys on the block, Nationwide League One side and group-stage table toppers Grassrunners FC, will face Sunshine Stars in the first semi-final at 10am, while Abakaliki FC, popularly known as De Rice Boys, take on Ikorodu City at 2pm in the second encounter.

Grassrunners have been the standout team of the competition, emerging as the only unbeaten side after recording four wins and a draw, scoring eight goals and conceding just two.

They secured their place in the last four with a convincing 3-1 victory over Dokkal Khairu in their final league-phase fixture.

Abakaliki FC have also impressed on their way to the semi-finals and will now face an Ikorodu City side that reached the last four despite suffering back-to-back defeats to Abakaliki FC and Doma United.

The Oga Boys will need to rediscover their attacking spark if they are to overcome De Rice Boys and secure a place in the Gold Cup final.