Team Rivers wins South-South U-18 Football Tourney

Team Rivers emerged as the winners of the 2024 South-South U-18 Football Tourney in a final played at Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Additionally, the U-18 male football team from Edo State claimed third place in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria in the zonal Football Associations’ Youth Football Tournament.

The Benin boys continued their participation in the tournament despite the passing of the Edo FA vice chairman, Kindness Ohiowele, who led the Edo delegation to the South South Youth Championship in Bayelsa.

Team Edo defeated Bayelsa 5-4 in penalty shootouts after ending the game in a 2-2 stalemate at regulation time.

The third-place match of the South-South U-18 football tournament between Bayelsa State and Edo State ended dramatically.

Team Edo took the lead in the 13th minute through Omoruyi Endurance, only for Bayelsa to come from behind to level up in the 27th minute and take the lead in the 38th minute, making it seem over for Edo. However, in the 76th minute of play, God’stime Alakwe’s beautiful goal brought Edo back into the game, leading to the shootouts, which ended in favor of Team Edo, converting all their kicks.

Coach Osayomore Aghahowa’s managed Edo U-18 football team defeated Cross River 1-0, courtesy of Godstime Alakwe’s 85th-minute goal on Monday in the last group game to qualify for the third-place match against Bayelsa.