Legend FC of AMAC defeated Maracana FC of Kwali 2-1 on Saturday in Abuja to win the first Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi FCT unity football tournament.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the grand finale at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja marked the culmination of a month-long battle involving teams from the FCT’s six local councils.
Legend FC’s Kelechi Francis opened the scoring in the 38th minute, before Sheriff Idris of Maracana FC equalised in the 47th minute of the second half.
Francis, on the other hand, secured the victory for the Legend boys with a clean finish in the 52nd minute, ensuring a 2-1 triumph for Legend FC.
Earlier, Kickers FC upset N-Youth FC 5-4 in penalties after regulation time ended 2-2.
Mrs Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the championship’s organiser, told NAN after the match that the competition was designed to foster togetherness and identify grassroots talent distributed around the FCT.
Sports, according to the media entrepreneur and former All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for FCT, might be a powerful weapon for empowering Nigerian young and building national unity.
“This inaugural competition is intended to engage our youth and promote national unity, beginning with FCT.”
“A nation cannot exist if there is no unity.” So, we’re attempting to use sports to effect positive change, get our young off the streets, and build a wonderful nation,” she explained.
Ex-internationals such as Kanu Nwankwo and Femi Ajilore, according to Benjamins-Laniyi, were chosen as competition ambassadors to provide encouragement and mentorship to emerging talents found during the competition.
According to NAN, the tournament included 80 teams and 1,200 players from the preliminary stage to the finals.
