Top Nigeria Professional Football League sides MFM FC and FC Ifeanyiubah on Friday won separate pre-season football tournaments on their home turfs in Lagos and Nnewi respectively.
In Lagos, MFM FC – one of Nigeria’s representatives in next year’s CAF Champions League – came from behind to beat 36Lion FC 3-1 in the final of the inaugural South West Cup.
Emmanuel Bakare shot the non-league 36Lion ahead on 40 minutes but MFM levelled scores on the hour mark through new signing Victor Mbaoma.
Versatile left back Bashiru Monsuru gave the Church Boys the lead for the first time in the game three minutes later before Salefu Ochewechi sealed the win fifteen minutes from time.
While teams from the South West battled in Lagos, teams from the South East and South South region converged on Nnewi for a week-long competition staged at the FC Ifeanyiubah Stadium.
In an all NPFL-final decided on Friday, hosts FC Ifeanyiubah also came from behind to beat Rivers United 3-2 in a thrilling contest. Youngster Malachy Ihuoma grabbed a sensational hattrick to hand the hosts the title after Emeka Atuloma scored the game’s curtain raiser for United. Guy Keumian scored United’s other goal before Ihuoma won it in stoppage time.
Up North, hosts Kano Pillars advanced to the final of the Ahlan Cup tournament with an emphatic 4-1 drubbing of Katsina United. Striker Junior Lokosa scored twice for Pillars with Fahad Usman and Rabiu Ali scoring the others. The Sai Masu Gida will face winners of Saturday’s other semifinal tie between Akwa United and El-Kanemi Warriors in Sunday’s final.
Both the losers’ final and the championship match of the Ahlan Cup will be decided on Sunday at the Sani Abacha Stadium, a day before the NPFL Pre-Season Invitational tournament gets underway at the same venue.
