Blink it – it really happened. Ibadan! Ibadan! Ibadan! They clipped the wings of the high-flying, high-scoring Eagle – Lagos.
This plot could not have been written by any mortal. It was the goddess, Yemoja, that scripted it, and it was performed by Ibadan players. And from Akinyele to Egbeda, from Lagelu to Oluyole, from Ona Ara to Ido, this victory shall reverberate.
Yes, Ibadan did it. From the dizzying heights of Bower Memorial Tower in Ibadan, Yemoja spectated and inspired the proceddings. Yes, because it can only take something super-natural to beat this well-drilled, tactical, energetic group of warriors called Lagos. But it happened.
The only goal conceded by Lagos before the Semi-final came from Owerri, after scoring first – a game they went ahead to win 4 – 1.
Since then, they have not looked back, tearing apart every opponent, and scoring no less than 2 in every match, with the Adebayor-incarnate, Emmanuel Chuks, always drawing the first blood in every match.
Ibadan played like a group of men possessed by some spirits. They had their legs on the accelerator all through, throwing the kitchen sink at Lagos, while staying defensively impenetrable.
They scored one in the first half and created more chances than Lagos. While Lagos laboured to conjure an equaliser, they put the game out of sight with a second to win 2-nil.
It was a feeling of disbelief tinged with astonishment that weighed on the shoulders of Lagos players, as the their fans watched them in incredulity, trudging off the familiar field, heads lowered, legs heavy. The final was played today, if I am asked.
This competition is evolving, and rapidly!
In the 2nd semifinal game, Bwari were deserving winners as they scored one unreplied goal to seal the game. Benin didn’t look likely to score.
Benin will meet Lagos in 3rd place game tomorrow morning while Ibadan will meet Bwari in the finals scheduled for 4pm tomorrow.
For the female competition, Abuja Women beat Owerri Women by two goal to nothing, and Benin Women beat Lagos Women by a solitary goal.
