Tudun Wada wins inaugural NLO/ Ikukuoma Super Cup

 

Tudun Wada FC were crowned champions of the inaugural Nationwide League One/ Ikukuoma Super Cup after they edged Ave FC 3-2 on penalties.

It was a spectacle to behold at the Uboma Secondary School Stadium Complex on Saturday, as both teams deserved their hands on the trophy, after the final game ended 1-1 in regulation time.

A minute after the half hour mark, Tudun Wada thought they had taken the lead from a sharp turn of pace by Yakubu Mohammed puts him in behind and did enough to fire his  shot towards goal from a tight angle, but his strike went for side netting. 

Ave FC goalkeeper Sebastine Chibuike was forced to make a reflex save in the 35th minute, as he stretched magnificently to save a shot from Rabiu Abdullahi. 

Rabiu Abdullahi was close to scoring the first goal of the game in the 48th minute but was denied by the woodwork, after he made the most of Shamsudeen Rabiu's magnificent through ball, rounds goalkeeper Chibuike but was unlucky to hit the upright with his effort.

The deadlock was broken four minutes to the one hour mark, as Salisu Idris put Tudun Wada up nodding home off a set piece. 

With 13 minutes to end the final, Adesokan Abdulmalik draw level for Ave FC from a penalty for 1-1. No further goal was scored as both teams then went into spot kicks to determine the winner of the contest.

It was Tudun Wada FC day as they converted three of the kicks while Ave FC lost three as well.

Tudun Wada battles Ave FC in NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup final

 

Tudun Wada and Ave FC are set to spark fireworks at the Uboma Secondary School Stadium Complex on Saturday September 16, after both teams qualified for the final of the inaugural Nationwide League One/ Ikukuoma Super Cup.

With the exit of Campos JNR FC and Dohz Academy from the tourney after losing 4-2 and 3-1 respectively to Divine Praise and Ikukuoma FC on Matchday 2 of the second round group matches, the quest for a ticket to play in the grand finale, was down to results from the Matchday 3 fixtures.

Tudun Wada locked horns against Ikukuoma FC in a Group B tie, while Uboma based team Ave FC battled Divine Praise FC in an interesting Group A fixture. At the end of both matches, it was Tudun Wada and Ave FC that sealed their passage to Saturday's epic final.

With a quarter of an hour into the first game of Matchday 3, Ikukuoma FC could have taken the lead but goalkeeper Muwadda Mohammed stood his ground to keep a clean sheet after he did well to deny Ukaegbu Chima from the spot kick.

Ikukuoma FC finally broke the deadlock for 0-1 in the 19th minute, but this time around; Chidozie Samuel was clever with his effort from the spot. The home team, then took the lead to the dressing room.

Tudun Wada, came out strongly in the second half and after five minutes, their effort paid off as Emmanuel Haris drew level making the most from a scramble after a school boy defending from Ikukuoma FC.

Ikukuoma FC who needed a win to qualify to the final, were left to rue their misses and poor defending as the game finished 1-1, thus leaving both teams levelled on 4points each but Tudun Wada had the edge with superior 3 goals difference as against 2 goals for Ikukuoma FC.

For Ave FC who needed just a point to qualify, gave themselves a boost as they defeated Divine Praise FC 2-0 with two quick goals scored by Alwell Jones within four minutes in the first half.

Alwell Jones put Ave FC in front in the 22nd minute after making the most of an assist from his teammate with a powerful header. He then completed his brace with another superb strike with his head in the 26th minute to send the Uboma fans into wide jubilation.

NLO/ Ikukuoma Super Cup 2nd Round: Decisive fixtures holds on Thursday

 

NLO/ Ikukuoma Super Cup 2nd Round: Decisive fixtures holds on Thursday

The finalists for the inaugural Nationwide League One/ Ikukuoma Super Cup would emerge on Thursday, with two decisive fixtures billed to hold at the Uboma Secondary School Stadium complex. 

With the completion of Matchday 2 fixtures in the second Round, four teams have picked 3points each, with Campos JNR and Dohz Academy exiting the tournament.

The quartet of Tudun Wada, Ikukuoma FC, Ave FC and Divine Praise are the teams that have secured maximum points after Matchday 2.

In their quest for a ticket in the grand finale, Tudun Wada will lock horns against home team Ikukuoma FC in a Group B tie fixed for 10am. Two hours later, another Uboma based team Ave FC will be seeking to go past Divine Praise FC in another interesting Group A fixture.

Meanwhile, and early on Tuesday, Campos JNR FC and Dohz Academy were bundled out of the tourney after losing 4-2 and 3-1 respectively to Divine Praise and Ikukuoma FC.

It took eight minute for Divine Praise to break the defence line of Campos JNR FC, with a strike from Ignatius Chilem. They were ahead again three minutes later courtesy a goal from Ella Christopher. 

Nwaobisa Onyebuchi puts the game beyond Campos JNR FC with the third goal in the 25th minute, after he dribbled past his makers, then put the ball beyond the goalkeeper.

Campos JNR FC started what could have been a comeback, after Simon Udoka pull one back from a goal-mouth scramble. It became 3-2 a minute after the one hour mark, as Okone Nonso scored an own goal off a left side corner.

It should have been 3-3 for Campos JNR FC in 75th minute but Divine Praise had goalkeeper Chimezie Anthony to thank after he made an outstanding save to deny Emeka Okoro from point blank. It was however little too late for Campos JNR, as Nwaobisa Onyebuchi sealed the game in the 80th minute for 4-2.

The brace hero Nkwo Martins and Ibe George displayed class for Ikukuoma FC, as they came from to cancel out Adesina Quduss 4th minute goal for Dohz Academy, to wrap up the game 3-1.

WEDNESDAY FIXTURES

Ave FC vs Divine Praise - Group A - 12noon

Tudun Wada FC vs Ikukuoma FC - Group B - 10am

Tudun Wada, Ave FC record big wins as NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup second round come alive

 

It was a feast of goals in the Nationwide League One/ Ikukuoma Super Cup second Round as the two fixtures involving Dohz Academy versus Tudun Wada FC and Campos JNR versus Ave FC recorded two wins and 10 goals with five goals each in both matches.

After two days of rest, action resumed at the Uboma Secondary School Stadium complex and it was Yusuf Mohammed that set the tone of the game when he found the back of the net in the 25th for Tudun Wada against Dohz Academy.

In two minutes interval, Amuda Babatunde cool finish brought the game level at 1-1 for both teams. On the half hour mark, Tudun Wada went ahead again through Abdullahi Rabiu's spot kick to make it 1-2.

It was stopping for Tudun Wada, as they got a two-goal cushion in the 33rd minute of a goal off Shamsudeen Rabiu for 3-1 against Dohz Academy.

Aminu Mohammed then put the icing on the cake for Tudun Wada in the 78th minute for their 4th goal and first 3points, when he curled home a delightful free kick from the edge of the box beyond the reach of Dohz Academy goalkeeper.

The second game was as entertaining as the first as Ave FC came from behind to do the damage against Campos JNR FC, winning 2-3 at full time.

It was a game of two interesting halves as it took Campos JNR 22 minutes to opening the scoring courtsey a strike via Njoku Chukwuemeka. The team then kept things decent going into the changing room with the one goal lead.

 

With 11 minute into the second half, Emeka Okoro fired home to double lead for Campos JNR FC. Things turned soar for Campos JNR in the 63rd minute after Awulomu Chidiebube scored an own goal off a set piece for 2-1. 

Four minutes later, Ave FC got themselves back into the game as Onyeahiolan Chimdindu drew level for the Uboma side with a delicious half volley for 2-2 to the delight of fans.

Campos JNR defenders then had themselves to blame, after Alwell Jones found himself in space to nod home in confident fashion for a third goal for Ave FC and winner in the 70th minute.

Action resumes on Wednesday for another interesting fixtures in the second round.

WEDNESDAY FIXTURES

Divine Praise FC vs Campos JNR FC - 10am

Ikukuoma FC vs Dohz Academy - 12noon

Summer FC duels with Ave FC to get inaugural NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup underway

 

It will be football glitz and glamour in Uboma, Imo State as the inaugural Nationwide League One NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup kicks off on Wednesday September 6 with an opening fixture between Summer FC and Ave FC.

The NLO secretariat, who last week listed 18 teams, which included two wild cards, released the groupings, match fixtures, timing, and venues that will host the 10-day tournament.

The Uboma Secondary School Stadium Complex, in Ihitte/Uboma LGA, Imo State will host matches of the NLO Super League.

Six (6) groups A to F, have three teams each; as they will battle for pride in the group phase, for a winner from each group to qualify for the Second Round after 18 matches.

The top teams from the six (6) groups will square up against themselves in a Group A and Group B format made up of three (3) teams each, with only the two (2) best teams qualifying for the final of the NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup billed for Saturday, September 16.

Teams drawn in Group A are Ihitte Uboma-based Summer FC, Ave FC, and Golden Albium FC (Delta State). Group B has Buratai FC (Yobe State), Palm Syrup FC (Akwa-Ibom State), and Paul E FC (FCT), while JSC FC Suleja (Niger State), Divine Praise FC (Lagos State) and Kofar Soro FC from Katsina State make up Group C

Ikukuoma FC (Imo State), Ablegod FC (Ondo State) with Kano-based Hausawa United FC are in Group D, followed by Tudun Wada FC (Kano State), Zeal Minds FC (Benue State) and Vandrezzer  Academy (Akwa Ibom State) in Group E.

The trio of DOHZ FA (Kwara State), Discovery Academy (Kebbi State), and FC Ebedei JNR will slug things out in Group F.

Chief Operating Officer of the nation's third-tier league, Olushola Ogunnowo who spoke ahead of the kickoff.

"We know that Nigerians are passionate about football, so we want to make our grassroot football irresistibly appealing to them and the rest of the World.

“All is still in top gear for the inaugural NLO/Ikukuoma Super Cup without hitches in terms of the logistics we have put in place,” said the NLO’s COO Olushola Ogunnowo.

The tournament which will be keenly contested will see invited foreign scouts, and eight Sporting Directors from different leagues across the world in attendance.

However, the NLO broadcasting department will be live-streaming all matches from the championship for fans all over the world to see.