Tudun Wada wallops Palm Syrup 7-2 to clinch NLO Cup title, gets 18-passenger Coastal Bus

 

Tudun Wada FC emerged champions of the inaugural NLO Cup, sponsored by telecommunications giant MTN and FirstCentral Credit Bureau, after defeating Palm Syrup in a 9-goal thriller on Saturday.

The final match at the Bwari Stadium, Abuja was breath taking, full of suspense and exciting goals as Christmas came early for Tudun Wada FC, who made history in Nigeria's top grassroot football, becoming the first NLO side to win two inaugural tournaments - NLO Super Cup and NLO Cup, after putting seven (7) goals past Palm Syrup, who only managed to get two (2) goals.

After a string of brilliant play from both teams, and end-to-end football, Palm Syrup got the first goal in the 14th minute, after Christian Otu profited from a gift from a goalkeeping blunder from Tudun Wada goalkeeper Muwada Muhammad, to slice home the goal.

Three minutes after the opening goal, 

Rabiu Abdulahi missed a sitter to draw level for Tudun Wada. The equalizing goal then came in the 23rd, as Yusuf Mohammed drew level for the Kano-based team.

Palm Syrup retook the lead through Abraham David with a screaming strike, to make it 2-1 against Tudun Wada FC. 

Two minutes interval, Tudun Wada restored parity through Rabiu Abdulahi after a school boy defending on the part of Palm Syrup to make it 2-2.

Tudun Wada in the 38th minute took the lead from Palm Syrup, as Yusuf Mohammed was involved again after Rabiu dribbled past his makers, then set up Yusuf, who wasted no time to score his brace and handed his team a one goal cushion going into half time.

It was a one-sided second 45 minutes as Tudun Wada showed dominance, putting the icing on the cake in the 67th minute, with Rabiu Abdulahi grabbing his brace and his seventh goal in the NLO Cup.  

They still had time to score three more goals in the 77th and added time via the duo of Ashiru Ibrahim and Mubarak Sani who got a brace.

For their brilliance winning the championship unbeaten, Tudun Wada FC went home with a 18 Seater Coastal Bus, runner-up Palm Syrup FC was awarded the sum of One Million naira (#1m) while third-placed Green Lock gets Five Hundred Thousand naira (500,000) courtesy of sponsors MTN.

Palm Syrup aiming to beat Tudun Wada to NLO Cup title

The wait is over, as it has finally come down to the epic day of the NLO Cup, sponsored by telecommunications giant MTN and FirstCentral Credit Bureau, as an impressive Palm Syrup will aim to spoil Tudun Wada's party at the Bwari Stadium, Abuja.

Before Saturday's grand finale, the nation's third-tier league will be having its Congress, where the roadmap to the new season will be discussed by the NLO Board and clubs.

Sixteen (16) best grassroot teams were selected to showcase the beautiful brand of NLO football, as they dared to dream of lifting the trophy at the end of the tourney, when the group stage began from November 24th to December 9 at two centres, the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano and Uyo Township Stadium, Uyo.

Only Tudun Wada FC, who were winners of the inaugural NLO Super Cup at the Uboma Secondary School Stadium Complex, Imo State and Palm Syrup are left standing ahead of this weekend’s final. 

The path to the final for both clubs: 

This game brings together a clash of styles, though it is going to be a familiar territory for Tudun Wada FC, as they go into the final as the overwhelming favourite.

They are yet to lose a single game, and were very clinical in front of goal, scoring nine (9) and defensively conceding three (3).

Tudun Wada had a slow start to their campaign in lone goal wins against 

Barau/Murtala and Like Minds FC, but fired the burner beating FC  Zeal Minds FC 4-2 to set-up a semi-final clash against Green Lock, whom they dispatched 3-1.

For Palm Syrup, they shouldn’t be taken lightly, as they are though and with a good mental strength. No easy for a team that lost it's final group game to RORO FC to go past Kun Kalifah FC 6-5 in a nail biting penalty shootout in the semi-final.

They were not a too scoring side but they pulled surprises having the job done at the Uyo Centre. Palm Syrup edged both Krane FC and Jaguar FC 2-0 lost to RORO FC a lone goal, to go top of Group 2 (B) and set-up a titanic clash with free flowing and scoring Kun Khalifa.

After a tough 90minutes, both teams needed the lottery of penalties to book a ticket to Abuja. Palm Syrup turned the disadvantage to an advantage after missing their third spot kick, only for Kun Khalifa to miss their third and fourth kick, to win the thrilling 16 penalty kicks on 6-5, to zoom into the final.

Meanwhile, Tudun Wada FC are one game away from making history in Nigeria's top grassroot football. Should they win on Saturday, the Kano-based  team will become the first NLO side to win two inaugural tournaments - NLO Super Cup and NLO Cup.

For anxious fans of the Nationwide League One football brand, they can get to catch a glimpse of the third-place game, Kun Kalifah FC versus Green Lock and the final on the NLO TV App or on the NLO YouTube Channel, as both matches will be live streamed.

Group Stage

Krane FC 0-2 Palm Syrup

Palm Syrup FC 2-0 Jaguar FC

RORO FC 0-1 Palm Syrup

SEMI-FINAL

Palm Syrup 0-0 Kun Khalifa FC (6-5 on penalties)

Group Stage

Barau/Murtala 0-1 Tudun Wada

Tudun Wada FC 1-0 Like Minds FC

Tudun Wada FC 4-2 Zeal Minds FC

SEMI-FINAL

Tudun Wada 3-1 Green Lock

FINAL

Palm Syrup vs Tudun Wada

Tudun Wada books NLO Cup final duel with Palm Syrup

 

Tudun Wada FC will lock horns against Palm Syrup FC in the final of the NLO Cup sponsored by telecommunications giant MTN and FirstCentral Credit Bureau, after defeating Green Lock FC 3-1 in the second semi-final on Wednesday at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.

After a goalless 45 minutes, the deadlock was broken by Peter Michael after he gave Tudun Wada the lead from a well taken penalty in the 57th minute.

Tudun Wada then got a two-goal cushion on the one hour mark after Yusuf Mohammed fired home from a second penalty kick. 

Green Lock FC then started what could have been a comeback for them in the 62nd minute, after Philip Onyedika found Damilola Adeyeye in the box, who after some careless defending from Tudun Wada, scored to make it 2-1.

As the game got to the last five minutes, it was a little too late for Green Lock FC in the 88th minute, as Mubarak Sani put the icing on the cake with the third goal, to send Tudun Wada to the finale in Abuja.

It will be another final for Tudun Wada FC, who were winners of the inaugural NLO Super Cup at the Uboma Secondary School Stadium Complex, Imo State.

The Bwari Stadium, Abuja will host the final and third-place match after the NLO Secretariat directed that there would be a third place game. 

With this Kun Khalifa FC will battle Green Lock FC for the bronze medal in the 3rd-place game before the epic final on Saturday December 9, 2023.

Palm Syrup secures spot in NLO Cup final, as Green Lock, Tudun Wada set to clash in second semifinal

 

Palm Syrup FC are through to the final of the NLO Cup sponsored by telecommunications giant MTN and FirstCentral Credit Bureau via the lottery of penalties.

It was an interesting 90 minutes of quality football that kept fans at the Uyo Township Stadium on the edge of their seats, as it ended goalless.

The penalty shootout was a nail biting one, as both teams played a total of 16 spot kicks, eight each. Palm Syrup who were first to miss a penalty; the third to be precise, also missed their fourth kick, leaving Kun Khalifa FC to an advantage.

But Kun Khalifa FC would at the day rue their miss, as it ended up hunting them, as Palm Syrup went ahead to win the shootout 6-5.

Meanwhile, the final group matches in Kano, were concluded at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Tuesday, with Tudun Wada and Green Lock FC leaving the group unbeaten. 

Tudun Wada FC pummeled Zeal Minds FC 4-2 with Rabiu Abdullahi scoring all the four goals for his side, while Green Lock FC piped FC Sheika 3-2 to setup a mouth watering tie between themselves.

However, Palm Syrup FC who have booked a place in the final scheduled for Saturday December 9, at the Bwari Stadium- Abuja, will await the winner between Green Lock and Tudun Wada.

Palm Syrup secures NLO Cup Semifinal ticket as journey ends for FC Chimoski

 

Palm Syrup FC became the first team to qualify for the semifinals of NLO Cup sponsored by telecommunications giant MTN and FirstCentral Credit Bureau, after recording a second win, after a 2-0 bashing of Jaguar FC in a second Group 2 fixture at the Uyo Township Stadium on Sunday.

It was an explosive game between both teams with two penalty saves at both ends, having recorded wins on Matchday 1 of the championship.

Palm Syrup took the game to Jaguar FC scoring first after Solomon Akpan made the most of an exciting pass from Abraham David for 1-0 in the 25th minute.

Abraham David who assisted the first goal then got his goal for a job well done in the 37th minute, after twisting and turning away from his marker at the edge of the box before curling in a superb strike for 2-0.

It was an interesting second half that saw two penalty saves from both goalkeepers. 

Palm Syrup won a spot kick in the 72nd minute after a foul on Solomon Akpan. Ukoette Anaibong then took the spot kick but was denied by Jaguar FC shot-stopper Uko Essen, to keep the scoreline at 2-0.

With 10 minutes to end the game, Jaguar FC could have started a comeback when they were awarded a penalty, but a magnificent sharp reflex reaction from Palm Syrup goalkeeper Nsisiong Ekpo, saw him deny Anyaegbunam Pacian from the spot kick.

Meanwhile, it was not too. good for FC Chimoski as they have been eliminated from the competition after suffering a second defeat, losing by a lone goal to Olegacy FC. Recall they fell 4-1 to Kun Khalifa FC on Matchday One.

In the other results from Uyo, it was spoils sharing as the game between Krane FC versus RORO FC and Vandrezzer JNR versus Kun Khalifa FC ended respectively at one all-draw.

However, matches continue at the Uyo Township Stadium on Monday morning with MatchDay 3 fixtures, while the Kano Centre resumes with MatchDay 2 existing fixtures at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata Kano.

Uyo Centre Matchday 3 Fixtures: 

FC Chimoski vs Vandrezzer JNR - 10am

Jaguar FC vs Krane FC - 12pm

Palm Syrup FC vs RORO FC - 2pm

Kun Khalifa FC vs Olegacy - 4pm

Kano Centre Matchday 2 Fixtures:

Tudun Wada FC vs Like Minds - 10am

Kwankwasiyya FC vs Green Lock FC - 12pm

Zeal Minds FC vs Barau/Murtala FC - 2pm

NA Royals vs FC Sheika - 4pm