Ottasolo Preseason Tourney: 10-man Ottasolo hold 36 Lion

 

The eagerly-awaited Ottasolo Pre Season Tournament, began with a 0-0 draw in a game between Ottasolo International Football Club and 36 Lion on Monday morning.

The opener at Legacy Pitch saw Ottasolo picking up a red card.

36 Lion had nothing to show for it in front of goal as they were held by a resolute Ottasolo side. 

The young boys played fluid football and high pressure off the ball. And inside five minutes they could've been ahead. Azeez Oseni whipped the ball across the box but Moses Usor couldn't quite get the contact to tap home from close range at the near post.

Peter John was presented with a golden opportunity to open the scoring but his close range effort could not hit the target. 

Ottasolo goalie Korede Shodipo was at alert to deny Moses who whipped home a wicked free kick.

It was a physical battle between the two sides, with 36 Lion better in terms of possession.

Ifeanyi Ogba had a chance in the 24th minute as he fired one from the edge of the box against woodwork.

Peter and Ogba combined well to set Matiti Ibrahim up in the box but the midfielder's close range effort sailed wide.

Oseni was one of the Lion's brighter sparks. He produced another cross, this time deep, which fell to Moses at the back post in the 32nd minute, but he could only volley his effort wide. 

Ottasolo came closest to drawing the curtain raiser, eight minutes into the second stanza through Ogba who failed to make the right connection.

Ottasolo's Hammed Egbedeyi received the second booking and was sent off on the hour mark.

Ifeanyi Hemekwele was guilty of a shocking miss and would have converted with ease for Lion in the 62nd minute.

Odom Chikah thought he had given 36 Lion the lead after beating goalkeeper Korede Shodipo but it was correctly ruled out for offside.

The match ended goalless as least both sides played some attractive technically good football and their game was far more easy on the eye.

The tournament continues in the afternoon with Sunshine Stars facing Smart City. Kickoff is 3pm.

36 Lion, Ayema FC share spoils in a tune up duel

 

36 Lion were held to a goalless draw by Benin Republic top-tier side Ayema FC in a friendly match played on Saturday.

The game which took place at the Seme Krake Stadium saw plenty goalmouth action with both teams settling for a draw.

It was the clash of Lions as five players of Ayema were developed by 36 Lion before moving back to Benin Republic to join the top tier side in the country of their origin. 

The two captains Azeez Oseni (Flying Eagles) and Ishola Olaitan (Benin senior team) were also familiar with one another which made the encounter an all attacking football match. 

Youthful mistakes were made by both teams but the goalkeepers were in brilliant forms. 

Each player covered minimum of 10 kilometers in the game. There was never a dull moment at Seme Krake Stadium today. 

It was a good game for 36 Lion who faced a side that finished in the Benin Republic Premier League last season.

36 Lion share spoils with Coton Sports in friendly

36 Lion displayed impressive performance to draw 1-1 with Coton Sports in Ouidah on Wednesday afternoon.

Azeez Oseni, Eniye Hitler, Moses Usor, Michael Oyekola and Opeyemi Oluwafemi were utilised at the middle of the park by the technical crew of 36 Lion.

On matchday, the enterprising Usor opened the scoring after poking the ball home on 24 minutes.

The Lagos-based side held on till the whistle was blown for halftime. 36 Lion controlled large portions of the game.

With Coton Sports slowly settling into the game, they managed to push the Lagos-based team into their shelf on several occasions before finally breaching the defense of the Lions to draw level.

Although both teams will flourish in their attempt to find the winning goal, neither side had the luck and hence was forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at the end of the 90 minutes.

The game forms part of 36 Lion's 10-day training camp in Benin Republic.

36 Lions edge past Djeffa in Cotonou

A gallant 36 Lion boys earned a 1-0 win over Beninoise premiership side Djeffa FC  in their fourth outing of the 2021 Benin Republic Tour on Tuesday morning.

36 Lion Fc made a bright start to the game, putting their opponents under immense pressure in the first 30 minute of the match.

After 35 minutes, both sides adopted a cautious approach to end the first half, the two teams created several scoring opportunities but staunch defenders from either side refuse to bulge, and first half ended goalless.

The second stanza of the game commenced with similar tempo like the first stanza, but the Lions were more crafty and attacking minded.

Lions enjoyed free flow attacking runs as usual from the duo of Azeez Oseni and Moses Usor.

The Lions captain Azeez Oseni registered his goal at 62nd minute via spot kick (penalty), after two defenders  sandwiched him in the box. 

It was however a topsy-turvy game in the last fifteen minute for both teams, as the centre referee sound­ed the final whistle to end the game 1-0 at regulation time.

Speaking immediately after the victory, 36 Lion gaffer Akinrele Francis shower praise on his players. "Djeffa FC are a good side and for us to beat them, I told my players before the match to raise their game beyond 100% which they perfect well. 

We have a good team and I'm confident of my players that we can achieve better things in this training tour," he said.

Abidoye Babatunde Blackcoin

36 Lion Media officer 

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AS Cotonou hold 36 Lion in warm up

36 Lion were held to a 1-1 draw by AS Cotonou in the tour of Benin Republic as the highly-anticipated game with AS Cotonou ended in a stalemate on Wednesday morning.

The two clubs based locked horns at Stade René Pleven d'Akpakpa aiming for a win in the friendly.

Following a bright start from both sides in the first half, fans were treated to exciting football as 36 Lion and AS Cotonou opened up play and went on successive attacks.

The roaring Lions drew the curtain raiser on the stroke of halftime through Joe Oloko. The forward latched on a delicious pass from Azeez Oseni to score.

With 36 Lion led by Nigeria youth international Oseni resuming the second half to give it their all, they should have doubled the lead. 

AS Cotonou grabbed the equalizer in the 79th minute via penalty.

The determined Lions were unable to find a winner thereafter which left Oseni and his team-mates disappointed.

“I think we deserved more, but you have to show more also on the pitch,“ the attacking midfielder told the Media post-match.

Speaking about his form so far, he added: “I think I’m good, I’m good. The team, we all good. Training well, we arrived here very focused as always and like I said I always give my best on the pitch and give my heart to help my team-mates. So we need to keep it up, we keep improving and I wanted to win today – that’s why I’m disappointed with the result.”