NPFL/LaLiga U15 champions Remo Stars and U15 teams of Oyo, Osun and Ekiti got their first 3points on Matchday 1 of the maiden edition of the Taiwo Ogunjobi U15 Memorial Cup.

The opening fixture of the one-week long soccer fiesta at the Sports Complex Ataoja School Of Science in Osogbo, lived up to its hype after Oyo U15 got the better off their bitter rivals Lagos with a 2-1 scoreline.

It took Oyo State 16 minutes to break the resilience of Lagos State defence as Maruf Umar made history as he became the first goal scorer of the when he scored from a stunning strike to give his team the lead.

With Oyo State going into the break of half-time with a comfortable lead, the onus was on Lagos State to find the equalizing goal in the 2nd half.

That was not to be; as two minutes into the 2nd half, Shittu Fawaz pounced on lose ball from a poor defending to double the lead for Oyo State.

Francis Ajibola then gave Lagos State a lifeline after he reduced the tally from a goalmouth scramble in the 51st minute.

In the opening fixtures of Group B, 10 man Team Osun defeated their Ondo State counterpart thanks to Jimoh Kamaldeen’s 49th minute strike.

Team Osun were reduced to 10 players after Ossai Alex picked his second booking of the match for a late tackle on Oluwole Kehinde, and was sent off.

In the Ogun Derby, Remo Stars claimed the bragging rights after they beat Ogun State U15 team 2-0.

The young Sky Blue Stars scored in both halves, and took the lead through Wahab Hassan in the 23rd minute and missed a spot kick a minute after. Thirty minutes later, the NPFL/LaLiga champions then put the icing on the cake after Wahab Hassan scored the winner from close range.

In the last game of the Matchday One, Ekiti State pipped Kwara State in a keenly contested match, as Pelumi Agbegunde jabs home a well tailored cross to earn a valuable 3 points.

MatchDay One Results

Group A
Oyo State 2-1 Lagos State
Kwara State 0-1 Ekiti State

Group B
Osun State 1-0 Ondo State
Remo Stars 2-0 Ogun State

MatchDay 2 Fixtures (Thursday Aug 18)

Ondo State vs Remo Stars – 10:00 AM
Lagos State vs Kwara State – 11:00 AM
Ekiti State vs Oyo State -12:00 PM
Ogun State vs Osun State – 1:00 PM

VENUE: Sports Complex Ataoja School Of Science, Osogbo

OgunjobiMemorialCup22

The Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) hosted the Silver medalist Team Lagos men’s and women’s football teams at the just concluded 2020 National Sports Festival in Benin City on Sunday at the Soccer Temple, Agege.

LSFA Chairman who also double as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi appreciated Team Lagos Football teams and urged the players to focus on their career and education.

“We are here to welcome you back home and to say thank you to the team’s contingent, coaches, players, and backroom staff, we are proud of you all. We appreciate your attitude and the kind of football you played. Your progress is our mission, you have got the experience and you all will be stronger. You all have made us proud,” emotional Akinwunmi said.

Akinwunmi commended the Lagos State government and the Sports Commission for their support despite the challenges the team encountered during the qualifiers and accreditation of players for the Festival.

“We appreciate the Lagos State government and the Lagos State Sports Commission for their support. We are ready to support your progress, we know what we have done to support different kids in Lagos, footballers and also those willing to acquire education. We have saved a lot from slavery contracts as well.

“Football is gradual, with the right support you will get there. You have to take the right steps, if you are patient you will get there. You all need education, educated players is a better player. An educated player as security after playing.

“We are not interested in football agencies, we are only interested in your success. We are here to guide you and support your progress. This is the beginning for you all, you have to continue working hard. The glory is for us in Lagos, this is the reason why we have to work together as a family. My board members have been fantastic and we are proud that our work has come to fruition.”

LSFA Vice-Chairman Otunba Tade Azeez described the team’s podium finish as the ‘Golden’ Silver medal.

“We are proud of your performance, it was a Golden Silver finish for us. We heard what happened in Edo State, irrespective of that, we are proud of your performance,” an elated Azeez said.

The head coach of the men’s team, Hamidi Suleiman shower praises on his boys for their performance in Benin City despite the drama and intimidation in the final game.

He said; “We appreciate the opportunity for us to compete in the Festival, I want to salute my boys for their performance despite the challenges in Benin City. It was an amazing experience and I think we were good ambassadors of the State. We lost in the final, football is a game of chance, but despite losing the final game, we were the center of attention for those at the stadium.”

The captain of the women’s team, Asooto Franca narrated the experience they garnered at the Festival.

“In our first game, we played with just eight players because of clearance issues, but we were still able to secure a result. Then, the issue of penalties came up as a tiebreaker for the team that would progress and we survived the hurdle. Our performance in the semifinal was superb and I think we gave our best in the final. The experience wasn’t good in the final, tensed atmosphere and intimidation,” Franca revealed.