By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
ACLSportsACLSportsACLSports
9
Notification Show More
FootballNews
Turkish Super Lig: Olawoyin signs off season on a high
53 minutes ago
FootballNewsSuper Eagles
Omeruo: Victor Osimhen should join Chelsea 
9 hours ago
InterviewsNWFLSuper FalconsWomen's Football
Women’s Football: Usani Miracle: Nigeria’s rising star
9 hours ago
FootballNewsSuper Eagles
Unity Cup: Nigeria edge Jamaica to emerge champions
9 hours ago
Super Falcons
NewsSuper FalconsWomen's Football
Super Falcons vs Cameroon friendly rescheduled
23 hours ago
FootballNewsSuper Eagles
Osimhen nets in final Galatasaray game of the season
1 day ago
CompetitionNewsSuper FalconsWomen's Football
Morocco 2024: CAF announces match schedule for WAFCON
2 days ago
CompetitionNews
GatewayGames2024: Delta State emerge NSF champions
2 days ago
NewsSuper FalconsWomen's Football
NGA vs CAM friendlies: Lionesses to arrive Friday evening
2 days ago
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • Football
  • Naijaheroes
  • Grassroots
  • Basketball
  • Athletics
  • News
  • More
    • Laughter, Leather & Losses
    • #YOURSPORTSMEMO Podcast
    • Blogs
    • Competition
Reading: Akwa United win inaugural AITEO Cup in Lagos
Share
Font ResizerAa
ACLSportsACLSports
Search
  • Home
  • Laughter, Leather & Losses
  • Football
  • Naijaheroes
  • Grassroots
  • Basketball
  • Athletics
  • News
  • #YourSportsMemo
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
ACLSports > Blog > Football > NPFL > Akwa United win inaugural AITEO Cup in Lagos
FootballNewsNPFL

Akwa United win inaugural AITEO Cup in Lagos

Fisayo Dairo
Last updated: October 16, 2017 5:53 am
Fisayo Dairo
Published: October 15, 2017
Share
The team celebrate the win
As featured on NewsNow: Sport news
Sport News 24/7 

Substitute Gabriel Okechukwu converted the decisive spot kick as Akwa United defeated Niger Tornadoes to win the first edition of Nigeria’s Cup competition sponsored by AITEO.

Both teams fought out a pensive goalless draw in the ninety minutes of regulation time at a packed Agege Stadium before striker Okechukwu converted during the sixth round of spot kicks to hand United the title.

Victory on Sunday means the Promise Keepers have now won the Cup competition twice in three years after their 2015 triumph at the Teslim Balogun Stadium and will now represent Nigeria at next year’s CAF Confederation Cup.

Sunday’s final will go down as a rather forgettable one in the minds of soccer followers who had anticipated a glimpse of Akwa United’s free flowing footballing philosophy which had seen them score twenty three goals en route to the final.

- Advertisement -

©Kabiru Abubakar/fotodezamora/NFF

Their opponents however would not afford them any space or time as they frustrated Abdu Maikaba’s men for larger periods.

In fact, the best chance of the first half deservedly fell to Tornadoes but Wilfred Ammeh Angel’s effort from ten yards was brilliantly saved by Akwa goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo.

United’s frustrations grew as the half edged to a close as three of their players received bookings in what was a tortuous first half display.

The second half was indeed not any better as tackles kept flying here and there and neither side really got a strangle hold of the midfield action.

Both sides ring changes around the hour mark and their substitutes somehow brought a little more light on the gloomy fixture.

Tornadoes substitute Bashar Usman raced through on goal but a moment of hesitation was followed by a weak effort straight at Akwa goalkeeper Ojo.

The game’s biggest chance however fell to Akwa United’s substitute Gabriel Okechukwu five minutes from time but the striker somehow failed to hit the target after beating a badly set offside trap by Tornadoes.

The final was watched by about 4,000 fans including an array of dignitaries such as Governors Akinwunmi Ambode and Udom Emmanuel of Lagos and Akwa-Ibom states, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State, CAF President Ahmad Ahmad, CAF Vice Presidents Kwesi Nyantakyi and Omari Selemani, CAF Emergency Committee members Souleman Waberi and Amaju Melvin Pinnick, Executive Committee members of Nigeria’s Football Federation.

For a second successive season, the Federation Cup, now AITEO Cup required the lottery of penalty shootout and United emerged luckiest as the shootout sequence mirrored what happened during the regulation time – only five of the twelve spot kicks were converted.

Left and right full backs for Tornadoes Hussaini Isah and Reuben Ogbonnaya converted their kicks but were made to rue misses by Peter Momoh, Bashar Usman, Andrew Ikefe and Bolaji Adeyemo. Ikefe’s especially as the big central defender spurned what would have been a match winning penalty for his side.

Akwa United made the worst possible start to the shootout with former MFM midfielder Ifeanyi Ifeanyi’s kick brilliantly saved by Mustapha Aliko on Ifeanyi’s old stomping ground.

United never really looked assured during the shootout but left back Kodjovi Dadzie, another former MFM star Cyril Olisema and striker Gabriel Okechukwu converted in crucial periods to give Akwa United victory.

The winners claimed the tournament’s winning prize of N25,000,000 naira, a 1000% increment from the N2,000,000 naira given to last year’s winner, FC Ifeanyiubah.

Akwa United’s goalkeeper, Olorunleke Ojo won the final game’s Man of the match award and tournament’s Golden Glove while his teammate Christian Pyagbara won the tournament’s Golden Boot award with seven goals.

Match Stats
Niger Tornadoes
Aliko; Ogbonnaya, Ikefe, Akinmoladun, Isah; Zango, Adeyemo, Ammeh (Peter Momoh 72’), Babawo, Wakili (Bashar Usman 54’) Sani Rabiu.

Unused Subs: Melai; Iliyasu, T. Awwal, Iko, Rabiu.

Akwa United
Ojo; Otobong, Igudia, Ariwachukwu, Dadzie; Aremu (Chigozie Chilekwu 90’), Ifeanyi; Ubong, Olisema; Newman (Michael Ibe Okoro 87’), Pyagbara (Gabriel Okechukwu 67’)

Unused subs:
Shagari, Paterne, Babangida, Amaechi Orji.

CAF appoints Senegalese referees for Rivers United, Lobito clash
FIBA Zone 3: Abdulrahman relishes Bulls maiden qualification
CAFCL: Upbeat Remo Stars depart for Morocco
IOC bans Russia from 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea
Oshoala Barcelona make history, Ordega reaches Cup final
TAGGED:AITEO CUPNFF
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Previous Article Women’s AITEO Cup: Rivers Angels arrive Jos after 31-hour journey
Next Article Serie A: Mauro Icardi hat trick decides a five goal thriller
Leave a Comment

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Categories

YourSportsMemo

Latest News

Turkish Super Lig: Olawoyin signs off season on a high
Football News
Omeruo: Victor Osimhen should join Chelsea 
Football News Super Eagles
Women’s Football: Usani Miracle: Nigeria’s rising star
Interviews NWFL Super Falcons Women's Football
Unity Cup: Nigeria edge Jamaica to emerge champions
Football News Super Eagles

Stay Connected

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow

Archives

Latest News

GatewayGames2024: Delta State emerge NSF champions
Competition News
NGA vs CAM friendlies: Lionesses to arrive Friday evening
News Super Falcons Women's Football
FIFAU20WC: Flying Eagles get favourable World Cup draw
Age-Group Football Competition Football News

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 16.7K other subscribers
ACLSportsACLSports
Follow US
© ACLSports. All Rights Reserved.
adbanner