Date: 2017-04-30

ABS FC youngsters have emerged champions of the first edition of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Under-15 Promises tournament after defeating Katsina United 3-1 at the Agege Stadium in Lagos on Saturday.

Bello Sufiyan scored twice for the ABS under-15s while Oni Williams got the other and Hussain Mohammed netted for Katsina United.

Both teams had come through two group stages with ABS finishing second behind 3SC in the first group stage while Katsina United won their group ahead of El-Kanemi Warriors, Gombe United, Kano Pillars and Wikki Tourists.

In the second group stage, ABS finished top of Pool A with wins over El-Kanemi and Rivers United after an opening game 3-3 draw with Enugu Rangers, who ended up in second place.

Losing finalists Katsina United did well to top Pool B ahead of Niger Tornadoes, 3SC and FC Ifeanyiubah to set up the showpiece game.

ABS were business-like from the off when Williams fired them in front after just three minutes after kickoff.

Katsina United struggled in the opening minutes and ABS should have gone two goals up but for Afeez Ajao's failure to score a good scoring chance.

In the 25th minute, Katsina United were awarded a spot kick after Suleiman Majid upended Hussain Mohammed in the box and then got booked for his offence. Mohammed stepped up and scored for Katsina United to level matters and that sent the game into the break.

The second 30 minutes began in quickfire fashion. ABS striker Sufiyan scored twice in the opening five minutes to practically put the game to bed.

Katsina United barely had a sniff at ABS' goal. The Ilorin club should have added two or three more goals as Olusegun Olakunle, Jamiu Olasoju and Ajao could not find target with different opportunities presented to them.

Sufiyan nearly got himself a hat-trick but missed target as ABS ran out 3-1 winners to claim the under-15s title.

Earlier in the losers' final, Tornadoes defeated Rangers 1-0. Yahaya Abba Yahaya's first half goal proved decisive for the Minna club to finish third.