Kunle Adelabu & Austin Onah (SIWES Student)
-Royal fathers, guests laud AMA’s initiative, representation
After a long season of construction, the yet to be completed Igbogbo Stadium came alive on Sunday as Makbet FC and Triple O Elites All Stars teams trade tackles in the finals of the Ikorodu Constituency II Unity All Stars Cup.
The two teams out of the 32 that entered for the tournament in the last 10 weeks, delivered thrilling and entertaining football actions to excitement of the royal fathers, government functionaries, sports administrators and thousands of spectators that graced the final match.
Makbet All Stars emerged the 2025 champions after an intense penalty shootout defeating the Tripple O side 4 – 3. Incidentally, the third place match between Ijede All Stars led by the initiator and sponsor of the tournament, Hon. (Dr.) Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA), representative , Ikorodu Constituency II, Lagos State House of Assembly, and Oke – Eletu side also ended 4 – 3 via a penalty.
The winner went home with a golden trophy and N1milion star prize, second place team N700, 000 and a silver trophy, and the third place team N500, 000.
Patrick Oronyase of the Makbet All Star emerged as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, while Samson Oni, Makbet All Star goalkeeper went home as the Best Goalkeeper and Dimeji Michael, a player of the Elepe All Stars team received the Highest Goal Scorer award.
His Royal Majesties, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Mudashiru Agoro, Ranodu of Imota, Oba AbdulHakeem Oyebo, Obateru of Egbin, and Oba Richard Ogunsanya, Olubeshe of Ibeshe graced the occasion. Also in attendance were High Chief Musediq Alliu, the Regent/Olisa of Ijede and other traditional chiefs.
Hon. Bonu Solomon, representing Badagry 1, Hon. Abiodun Tobun, Epe 1, Omoba Hammed Aroyewun, Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo – Alogba, Chairman, Ijede LCDA, Hon. Femi Kabir, Vice Chairman, Ijede LCDA, were some of the government functionaries in attendance while Asiwaju Olorununmi Basorun, GAC chieftain, Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, GAC chieftain, Hon. Saheed Hassan, APC apex leader Ijede LCDA, Dr (Col.) Titi Onafowokan and wife, Alhaji Sefiudeen Ogunyemi, Hon. Jimoh Ogunmuywa, Builder Sesa Daini, former Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeu LCDA, Mr Waheed Kasali, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State, Alhaji Liameed Gafar, Chairman, Lagos State Football Association (LSFA), Alhaji Lukman Sonibare, Chairman, Ikorodu FA and others also graced the occasion.
From the kick off, both teams that played in the final game displayed high energy, skill, and determination, creating several chances at both ends of the pitch. The goalkeepers from both sides were outstanding, making crucial saves that kept the game goalless throughout the 90 minutes.
The fans of Makbet FC turned out in large numbers, cheering passionately and boosting their team’s morale throughout the match. Despite the intense efforts from both sides, the game ended 0–0, pushing the game into a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Makbet FC held their composure to edge out Triple O Elites with a 4–3 victory, claiming the prestigious Unity All Stars Cup 2025 title.
The win sparked jubilation among Makbet FC supporters, celebrating their team’s resilience, teamwork, and dedication throughout the tournament. The finals once again showcased the unifying power of football and the incredible talent within the All Stars community.
The sponsor, Hon. Aro described the tournament as a huge success adding that the tournament has helped him to connect more with his constituents.
“The tournament is a successful one, because this is the final of two tournaments – the U -17 and the All Stars. With this tournament, I am only making a statement and delivering my promises to the people.
“As a legislator, I felt that there was a need to engage with my people more and forums like this give them access to me to ask me what they want and what they want me to do for them. This is because many among them do not know what I am doing in the Lagos State House of Assembly or the process of passing laws and my other contributions on the floor of the house, but tournaments like this provided such a way to feel my representations,” Hon Aro posited.
The warm spirited lawmaker further explained,
“The idea was conceived for me to touch the length and breadth of Ikorodu Constituency II and for them to know who is representing them in the Lagos State House of Assembly.”
He said that organising the tournament also assisted in promoting unity among Ikorodu Constituency II people while also emphasising it has helped his representation in no small way.
“The tournament has also achieved its purpose of promoting unity within the Ikorodu Constituency II. It is my way of bringing the youth, men and women together, so that they can see more of me, but I never knew that it would be this big and blown out of proportion.
“In all honesty, these tournaments have really helped me to be rooted in the hearts of people that I represent. I planned these tournaments to make me accessible and now, I am more accessible to them
“Because I also played in the tournament and in actual fact, I captained my team – Ijede All Stars and played with virtually all the other teams till the third place match which we won, and this afforded them the opportunity to interact more with players and with this, they were able to walk up to me to make requests,” he added.
Alhaji Gafaar Liameed, Chairman, Lagos FA, speaking with THE IMPACT lauded the representative for investing in the youth and his community.
“Today is a wonderful day for me. For me, it’s already Christmas day because I love what I am seeing and I want every other 39 members in the Assembly, whom I call the 40 wise men to emulate Hon. Aro Moshood. I give him the Oscar for doing this.
“This has made Ikorodu to be more alive and the love I am seeing is good.”
He commended the state governor and the tournament initiator for the developing Igbogbo Stadium.
“With this stadium, we can only say thank you to our amiable Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu and to Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun and other stakeholders.
“This stadium will benefit thousands of youth. You can see the whole stadium alive with more than 2000 spectators in the stands. This is what we want and this is what we have been expecting.”
Hon. Bonu Solomon, member of the State Assembly thanked people of Ikorodu Constituency II for their support for AMA and expressed his happiness at the development that the stadium is bringing.
“Coming here today and seeing this football pitch, I am truly impressed. I can still remember when I was with Mr. Governor as the Special Adviser on Tourism — this very place was one of the areas we approved in the cabinet.
“The idea was that our youths must have something to engage themselves with, and today I can see that the Governor of Lagos State is indeed doing well.”
In his own speech, Omo’ba Hammed Aroyewun, who delved into how the land for the stadium came into being, commended Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe and other leaders in Igbogbo for their vision.
“This stadium is the result of the efforts of our great leaders in the early 1980s. They envisioned that this place would serve as a stadium for the benefit of our community.
“Over forty years ago, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the former Governor of Lagos State, came here to play a novelty match. My father, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, was the goalkeeper that day — I don’t know if they scored him (laughs) — and our father, Asiwaju Reuben Bashorun, was the captain of the team. That was when the foundation for this stadium was laid.
While also thanking the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Kasali and Hon. Aro for their efforts in ensuring that the stadium is developed, Aroyewun also pledged his support for the annual football tournament which he said has provided opportunity for youth development.
“To my brother and friend, Hon. Aro Moshood — God bless you for always standing by the community. You have been a great supporter of every developmental effort.
“I want to assure everyone here that this sports activity will now become an annual programme. We, the Chairmen of Constituency II, have decided to adopt it as a constituency-wide sports programme so that all of us will be fully involved.
“This is a great opportunity for our youths and talented sportsmen and women to participate and showcase their skills.”
He said that the stadium will be fully completed and commissioned by first quarter of next year.
Royal fathers and other dignitaries in their remarks also lauded the Ikorodu Constituency II representative for his quality representation.
