Football
Asegun Comprehensive
Secondary School, Ibadan, the Oyo State representative, has emerged national
champions of the season three of the Etisalat U-15 School Cup. The school team
defeated FOSLA Academy, Abuja 4-3 via penalty shoot-out after both sides ended
two goals apiece in open play in the final match decided at the Campos
Mini-Stadium, Lagos on Saturday.
The sides, arguably the
best teams on parade at the National Finals, had started the first half
cautiously, but it was the Oyo boys that looked a better side with some efforts
at goal though FOSLA grew into the game as the match dragged down.
FOSLA Academy continued
from where it had left off in the first half, but was soon pegged back by the
Oyo school team which broke the deadlock through Rasheed Qudus who had escaped
from the eyes of the opposition defence to nod into the net from a free kick.
The goal seemed to have stirred up the Abuja boys and their efforts paid off
when Gabriel Adejoh levelled scores with a curling free kick that evaded the
wall of the Oyo team. The goal brought the stadium to life as many clapped for
the brilliance of the goal.
The joy was however
short-lived as Rauf Jubril put his side ahead from a free kick. As the time
wore on towards the closing five minutes, there was visible apprehension in the
camp of the Abuja boys and the thousands of fans they have wooed with their
brand of football. FOSLA captain and danger man, Prosper Ojukwu, however had
other plans as he drew level with less than two minutes to go to send the match
into penalty shoot-out.
For winning the
tournament, Asegun Comprehensive Secondary Schoolwent home with a cash reward
of N2 Million and the Champions Trophy as well asN50,000 each for the players,
while FOSLA went home with N1 Million with each of the players pocketing N30,000.
Third-place winner, Kwara, got a cash prize of N750,000 for its efforts with
its players receiving N20,000.00 each.
In the individual awards
category, goal keeper of the Oyo team, Abram Femi picked the Golden Gloves
Award for conceding just two goals at the National Finals. Prosper Ojukwu won
the Golden Boot with five open play goals and also the tournament’s Most
Valuable Player.
Dignitaries who watched
the Final match include the Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew
Willsher; immediate Past President, Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Sani
Lulu Abdullahi; President, Nigerian School Sports Federation (NSSF), Mallam
Ibrahim Muhammad; Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission,
AdewunmiOgunsanya; Vice President, Marketing, Etisalat Nigeria, Adebisi Idowu;
Ex-Nigerian Internationals and former Super Eagles Players, MutiuAdepoju and
Victor Agali; Director, Brand and
Experience, Etisalat Nigeria, Elvis Ogiemwanye and Director, Co-Curricular
Activities, Lagos State, Babs Akinyeye.
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