Kwara, FCT reach national finals: Etisalat U15 School Cup Wrap
Date: 2016-10-21
The two teams crushed all their group opponents to reach the national finals from the Ilorin regional playoffs
Niger 2-0 Nasarawa
On the back of a 3-0 defeat to FCT, Government Secondary School, Minna returned to winning ways with a clinical 2-0 victory against Government College, Keffi at the Kwara Stadium on Thursday.
Strikes from Saidu Muhammed and Habibu Mustapha helped the Minna side recorded their second win of the tournament but it was not enough to secure them a progress to the national finals.
After a barren first half, Mohammed broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute paving way for Mustapha who fired home six minutes later to condemn the Keffi boys to their third defeat.
The result means Niger finished second with six points behind eventual group B winners FCT, while Nasarawa remain bottom with no point.
Kwara 5-1 Benue
Socrates Secondary School, Ilorin leveraged on their marvelous home fans to dismiss Mbagwa Community Secondary School 5-1 to finish atop and qualify for the national finals on Thursday.
Olusegun Olakunle's hat trick and Saheed Omigbono Waheed’s strike plus an own goal helped Kwara seal their third successive wins despite Korun Kaun grabbed a consolation for Benue.
Samuel scored against his side to gift Kwara an early lead in the sixth minute before Olakunle made it 2-0 in the 16th minute but Kaun pulled one back in the 22nd minute.
In the other half, Waheed increased the tally for Socrates in the 58th minute inspiring Olakunle to net his second and third of the day in the 69th and 72nd minute respectively to seal victory.
The victory ensured Kwara edged six-point holders Niger reach the national finals after accruing nine points from three straight wins including against Kogi and Cross Rivers.
Cross Rivers 3-1 Kogi
Akeem Secondary School exited on the high as they humbled reviving Alh-Azhan International College, Lokoja 3-1 on Thursday.
Going into the contest, Kogi only required three points to keep their qualification hopes alive but Cross Rivers who had no point after two matches ended the quest of the Confluence state boys.
A brace from Peter Edidoing Linus and Etim Bassey Etim clipped the wings of Kogi as Kokori Abdullahi got Alh-Azhan's lone goal to make up for his several missed scoring chances.
With three points apiece after three games, both teams settled for the two bottom spots behind Benue and eventual group A winners Kwara.
FCT 8-0 Plateau
Fosla Academy, Abuja qualified for the national finals with an 8-0 whitewash of Government Day Secondary School, Bokkos at the Kwara Stadium on Thursday.
Four goals in each half from Prosper Ojukwu ensured FCT brush aside the Plateau team garnering nine points, scoring 16 goals and conceding none in the Etisalat U15 School Cup.
Ojukwu who already had six goals in his bag, got Fosla in front in the second minute before adding three more goals inside the opening 13 minutes to secure a 4-0 lead at half time.
The FCT goal poacher continued from where he stopped in the other half as he netted his fifth of the day in the 44th minute and only needed 16 minutes after to make it 8-0.
With eight goals against Plateau, Ojukwu have now scored 14 goals in three matches and nicked his second man of the match award after his opening day impressive show.