The National Coordinator of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) and Convener of the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup, Chief (Comrade) Sheriff Mulade, Ph.D., has announced that the 2026 edition of the tournament will feature 28 teams drawn from the seven major ethnic nationalities in Delta State.

Mulade, who is also the Ibe-Sorimowei of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom, made the disclosure while inaugurating members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the tournament at the Africa for Peace Games Village at Ugolo near Osubi, Okpe Local Government Area, on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.

According to the National Coordinator, each of the seven ethnic nationalities in Delta State will present four teams for the competition, bringing the total number of participating teams to 28.

He explained that the participating ethnic groups include the three Anioma nationalities—Ika, Aniocha / Oshimili and Ndokwa—as well as Urhobo, Isoko, Ijaw and Itsekiri, noting that the arrangement was carefully designed to ensure equal representation and promote unity among the state's diverse ethnic groups.

He further disclosed that the opening ceremony of the 2026 edition would be held in Isoko land at the Southern Delta University Stadium, while the grand finale would take place in Delta North, with Kwale or Asaba being considered as the host venue.

According to Mulade all four age-category finals—Under-12, Under-14, Under-16 and Under-20—will be decided on the day of the closing ceremony, creating what he described as a festival of football and unity.

Reflecting on previous editions of the tournament, Mulade said the competition has continued to produce talented young footballers, although many of them have struggled to secure adequate opportunities to advance their careers.

He revealed that two outstanding players discovered during the maiden edition of the competition are currently in Abuja, while several others have been linked to football clubs in Lagos. However, he noted that challenges such as limited scouting opportunities and security concerns have hindered the development of many promising talents from the Niger Delta.

To address the challenge, he said the Africa for Peace Sports Academy was established to nurture emerging football talents and provide them with structured development opportunities.

Mulade disclosed that the academy has already established partnerships with football clubs in Lagos and Portugal, following his recent visit to the European country, with plans to identify between Under-12 and Under-16 exceptional players from the competition for further grooming and exposure.

He said one of the major objectives of the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup is not only to foster peaceful coexistence among Delta State's ethnic nationalities but also to create a sustainable pathway for talented young footballers to pursue professional careers.

The CEPEJ National Coordinator expressed optimism that the 2026 edition would surpass previous tournaments in both participation and talent discovery, while strengthening peace, unity and youth empowerment across Delta State.