TCC aims for greater heights in seventh season

Nigeria’s top grassroots football league, The Creative Championship, is gearing up for a bigger seventh season. They are focusing on better player development, scouting opportunities, and clearer paths to professional football.

TCC started in November 2020 and has finished six seasons without breaks. They have produced over 100 players who now play for clubs in Africa, Asia, North America, and Europe.

In this upcoming season, TCC wants to strengthen its role as a link between grassroots football and the professional game. They plan to mix competitive chances with solid player development and more visibility for new talent.

At a media event before the new season, TCC Chief Operating Officer Chike Nwoye shared that the league's goals go beyond just winning games.

"Doing business in Nigeria is tough. Doing sports business in Nigeria is probably tougher, so having successive uninterrupted seasons is proof that we are actually doing something very great," Nwoye stated.

"Going into this season, we are taking it a step further because we just signed a deal with Titan GPS. For us, this was created not just to be part of the football ecosystem but to make it better."

The new season kicked off on Saturday with the TCC Super Cup. This match was between last season’s league winners Beyond Limits and TCC Cup champions Atlantic Business FC.

Bolaji Abdul-Rahman scored the winning goal in the 79th minute, helping Atlantic Business win their first Super Cup title.

Beyond Limits has been a strong team since the league started, winning five of the first six league titles. Real Sapphire won the other title.

Beyond Limits also took home two TCC Cup titles in 2024 and 2025. Gbagada FC, Dino FC, Valiant FC, and Atlantic Business won the cup in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2026 respectively.

TCC is also looking to grow in the 2026/27 season. D’Shack and Gaiters will be evaluated through the TCC Cup after showing promise during the selection process.

TCC’s records show the league’s role in developing Nigeria’s youth national teams. Players like Musa Akinfenwa, Ebenezer Harcourt, Bidemi Amole, and Kparobo Arierhi helped Nigeria win the WAFU B U-20 Championship.

Ahmed Akinyele, Jude Sunday, and Solomon Agbalaka also played in the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

At the U-17 level, seven TCC players represented Nigeria: Israel Nwachukwu Usulor, Musa Akinfenwa, Muiz Oladimeji, Oreoluwa Agbenla, Daniel Arierhi, Edward Ochigbo, and Great Edafe.

The senior team pathway includes Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, who TCC notes as one of its former players to have been part of Nigeria’s Super Eagles squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.