Kunle Adelabu
The 3rd edition of AMA U18 Star Youth Football Championship entered a critical stage at the weekend as more teams were further eliminated in the Round of 16, remaining eight teams which have qualified for the quarter finals of the ongoing tournament.
The championship, initiated and sponsored by the representative of Ikorodu Constituency II, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA), started about two weeks ago with 32 teams across four centres – Ijede, Elepe, Igbogbo and Imota, with intense games.
As the championship progresses, the intensity continues to rise. However, while some dreams ended in the Round of 16, others have remained alive as eight outstanding teams have moved one step closer to lifting the coveted AMA U18 Star Youth Football Championship trophy.
After the group stage and Round of 16 games, Mayflower FC, Palm Avenue FC, Fawole FC, Ori Okuta FC, Ogunlewe FC, Imota I FC, Sholumade FC and Elepe II FC, proved that they are not just boys against other quality and determined teams, but also men with their outstanding performances which have deservedly got them this far.
At Ijede Centre, Mayflower FC beat Ibeshe FC 1 – 0, to qualify for the quarter finals, after a tightly contested encounter, while Palm Avenue FC, which play flair football with impressive attacking display, defeated Awobo FC 3 – 1, to also book quarter final ticket.
One of the most entertaining matches of the Round of 16, was between Fawole FC and Imota III FC, which ended 5 -2 in favour of Fawole FC which delivered an attacking masterclass, netting five goals in a dominant victory.
In the second match at the Elepe centre, Igbe FC lost 0 -1 to Ori Okuta FC which demonstrated discipline and resilience, securing a narrow but decisive victory to continue their journey in the tournament.
At the Ijede centre, it was a home lost for Ebute -Ajebo FC which conceded 4 goals in their Round of 16 match against the Igbogbo team – Ogunlewe FC, without scoring any. Ogunlewe FC stamped their authority on the tournament with a commanding four-goal performance, leaving no doubt about their ambition to win the championship.
Imota 1 FC defeated Igbe Road FC 2 -1, to also move to the quarter final stage. The team fought bravely to overcome their opponents in a fiercely contested encounter, deservedly earned a qualification into the quarter final stage.
As expected, there were massive games at the Igbogbo centre. In the match between Zumuratul FC and Sholumade FC, which ended 1 – 1, at the end of the regulation time, Zumuratul FC lost 4 – 5 to Sholumade FC, in the penalty shootouts
The match between Oliwo Amoju FC and Elepe II FC, also ended in a goalless draw after the regulation time, and in the ensuing penalty shootouts, Oliwo Amoju FC lost 4- 5 to Elepe II FC.
Beyond the beautiful goals and sweet victories, the tournament continues to serve as a powerful platform for youth development, talent discovery, community unity, and positive engagement among the young people across Ikorodu Division.
