Record 2,500 youngsters participate in Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup
Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha was impressed with the talent
Last updated: February 20, 2025 | 07:30
3 MIN READ
ore than 2,500 young players from 22 nations and 180 teams took to the pitch for the biggest ever edition to date with 650 games being played across two days. Supplied
Dubai: Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha was impressed with the talent he saw during the recent record-breaking Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup at Zayed Sports City.
More than 2,500 young players from 22 nations and 180 teams took to the pitch for the biggest ever edition to date with 650 games being played across two days.
As well as teams from the UAE, there were representation from the UK, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Russia, Belarus, and Turkmenistan with more than 1,521 goals scored during the weekend across eight age categories in boys' and girls' events.
Onuoha, who was the Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup ambassador of the sixth edition, and among the 6,000 people in attendance, was delighted with the quality of football he saw and hopes the tournament will 'inspire the players to develop themselves' further.
He said: 'The Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup was a fantastic experience and it was great to see so many players from around the world take to the pitch and play the beautiful game with smiles on their faces. I was really impressed with the action I saw and hopefully this tournament can not only further inspire the players to develop themselves but also allow other players to take up the sport and play the game in the future.'
As well as the winning trophies, the winners of the showpiece Cup competition from each age group were entered into a special prize draw with Al Seeb from Oman (U14 Boys) winning a trip of a lifetime to visit and train at the Etihad Campus in Manchester – and watch a Manchester City first team game live.
Under 12s Plate winners GR7 Academy won a fantastic coaching clinic from Manchester City coaches, who will travel to work with the team in their home country of Oman.
The sixth edition also saw visitors enjoy a host of games, entertainment, and activations. On Saturday evening a big screen showed Manchester City's 4-0 win in the Premier League over Newcastle United, driven by a hat-trick from new Egyptian arrival Omar Marmoush.
Simon Hewitt, Director of Football Operations MENA for City Football Group said: 'The 2025 edition of the Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup has been a record breaker. Since its inception in 2017 we have seen phenomenal growth in the tournament, and to welcome more than 60 international teams to Abu Dhabi, and 180 teams overall, is testament to the impact this competition has on a global scale. Seeing all the boys and girls having fun this weekend was a joy, and the level of football on display was exceptional. We thank all the players, teams, coaches, parents, and supporters, for making this a very special two days. We also thank our partners, who play an integral role in helping us put on an event of this size and stature. We look forward to seeing everyone at an even bigger Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup in 2026."
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