Roc Nation Sports International (RNSI) kicked off its first-ever youth football tournament on the African continent, the ‘Roc Cup’ at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium in Accra.
The six-day competition, which began on Monday, February 23, 2026 at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium, brought together 10 elite youth teams from five countries, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea all competing in a round-robin format.
The tournament marks a significant step in the organization’s recent expansion into the African football market.
Grant Veitch, Director of African Football Recruitment at Roc Nation Sports International, described the event as a statement of long-term intent.
“The Roc Cup is more than just a tournament; it is a visible declaration of our commitment to African football,” he told JoySports.
“After signing several incredible teenage talents last year, we are solidifying our investment by hosting this special event. We aim to inspire local communities and to provide a genuine European pathway for the continent’s brightest emerging stars.”
Sakibu Nuhu, CEO of Benab FC and the agency’s representative in Ghana, said the partnership with Roc Nation is a strategic move aimed at giving young Ghanaians an opportunity to develop their talent.
“I recommended that we do something like this to bring everybody together — clubs from all over Africa, and also give Ghanaians the opportunity to work with an organization like ROC Nation, owned by Jay-Z. Having clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Benfica and other big European teams here sends a strong signal that in our next edition, we will do even more.”
Founded in 2013 by American rapper and businessman Jay-Z, Roc Nation Sports is a culture-driven talent agency representing athletes across football, American football, basketball and baseball.
Among its high-profile clients are Brazil forward Vinícius Júnior, Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku.
Beyond the competition itself, organisers say the Roc Cup is designed to foster community engagement by involving local volunteers and supporting small businesses around the venue.
The longer-term ambition is to establish the Roc Cup as an annual fixture on the African youth football calendar, while creating sustainable pathways for emerging talent to progress to the European game.
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