Kunle Adelabu
The road to winning another Constituency II Unity Cup championship for the Igbogbo All Stars team, the maiden champions of the tournament, came to an end on Saturday, as they were defeated by Tripple O All Stars by 5 – 4 on penalties after playing 1 – 1 draw at the regulation at the lmota Centre.
Also out of this year’s tournament are Elepe All Stars, Offin Ile All Stars and Nwandi Namba All Stars Igbogbo.
At the Imota centre where the defending champion, Igbogbo All Stars, faced Tripple O All Stars, it was a pulsating match that kept fans on their feet till the very end. Tripple O All Stars shocked their opponents early in the match as they scored in the 3rd minute to take a commanding lead. But the ever-determined Igbogbo All Stars refused to back down, clawing their way back with a swift equalizer in the 12th minute.
From that moment, the game turned into a tactical chess match with both sides pressing each other and refusing to blink. The match ended 1–1 after regulation time, forcing a tense penalty shootouts which the defending champions lost 4 – 5 on aggregate as Tripple O All Stars moved into the semi final of the most prized tournament in Ikorodu Division.
At the Imota Centre, it was a battle of pride between Makbet and Elepe All Stars who also battled for one of the the semi – final spots. Makbet All Stars, known for their ruthless attacking play, struck early in the 13th minute and doubled their lead before halftime in the 30th minute, stunning Elepe All Stars and their roaring fans.
However, Elepe All Stars regrouped and in the 70th minute, pulled one back, igniting late tension and hope. But the damage had already been done as Makbet All Stars held firm till the final whistle which qualified the team for the semi -finals.
Meanwhile, Ijede All Stars greatly missed the purposeful leadership and motivation of their team captain, Hon. (Dr.) Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA), Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, the initiator/sponsor of the tournament who was unavoidably absent due to official state engagements, but the team still went on to play with sheer determination, confidence and tactical knowledge at the Elepe centre where Ijede and Offin Ile All Stars trade tackled.
It was a fierce contest as Ofin Ile All Stars pressed hard, but Ijede All Stars’ superior coordination prevailed as Captain AMA team won the semi final ticket with 1 – 0 win.
If passion had a face, it would be in the match between the fiery Nwandi Namba All Stars of Igbogbo and the relentless Oke Eletu All Stars. Both team played ninety minutes of nerve-wracking action.
Oke Eletu broke through with a decisive goal, and though Nwandi Namba fought like gladiators till the end, they couldn’t find the equalizer.
After the hard victories, Tripple O, Makbet, Ijede, Oke Eletu All Stars, will now lock horns for a place in the grand finale where glory, pride, and the AMA Unity trophy await.
Razaq Kabiru Babatunde, Media Director/Personal Assistant to Hon. (Dr.) Aro Moshood Abiodun, in a statement after the matches said that the tournament is more than just a football, but initiative that is bringing the entire community together for a purpose.
“The AMA All Star Unity Championship is more than a tournament; it’s a movement of unity, sportsmanship, and community spirit, championed by Hon. (Dr.) Aro Moshood Abiodun whose leadership continues to inspire excellence both in governance and in grassroots sports.
“Even in his absence on the field, his influence echoed through the discipline, teamwork, and tactical brilliance of Ijede All Stars.
“As the crowd roared and the lights dimmed at the end of the day, one chant rang louder than ever: YES TO AMA!!! WE ARE SMILING!!!”.
