Fooball

University of Nigeria football team, UNN Lions will tackle the University of Benin football team UNIBEN Royals in the quarter-finals of this year's Higher Institutions Football League (HiFL). 

 

The Lions qualified for the quarter-finals after defeating the IAUE Minders 1-0 on aggregate in the last set of the round of 16 games. The Minders who were playing away put up a strong resistance but eventually fell to a 60th minute strike from Ifeanyi Alex of the Lions. The Minders failed to capitalize on the profligacy of the home team in front of the goal as they were also pegged back by a determined Lions’ defense. 

 

Speaking after the match, Coach of the UNN Lions, Ike Chijoke applauded the resilience of his team acknowledging that they played against a good team. “I am not surprised about our victory today because we deserved it. To our fans, I encourage them to keep praying for the team because we hope to win the trophy this year”. 

 

He further added that “against UNIBEN, we will prepare very well to counter them. I had that they are a very good team but in the game of football, it is about doing your best and taking your chances. We will work on our areas of deficiencies before the next match. I have to commend the sponsors for organizing this tournament because it has kept our youths from engaging in other vices and we hope they keep it up”. 

 

In that regard, Chief Strategy Officer at Pace Sports and Entertainment Marketing, Mr Goodness Onyejiaku stated that “most of the players look forward to becoming the StanbicIBTC Man-of-the-Match. Other sponsors like Nivea Men, Minimie and Bold also regularly provide good incentives that served as motivations for all the participating teams. Generally, we have enjoyed an atmosphere of games played in a very friendly manner with fantastic support from the school authorities. We hope to maintain this spirit of sportsmanship as long as we can”. 

 

Meanwhile, in Markurdi, maiden winner of HiFL, UAM Tillers defeated the ABU Nobles 2-1 through a 93rd minute goal from Joseph Clement to qualify on a 4-2 goals aggregate. UNILORIN Warriors summed up their qualification for the quarter-finals in Ilorin defeating KSU Steelers with a 78th minute goal from Fashanu Michael, while UNILAG Marines qualified with a 3-0 aggregate win over the FUTA Tigers. 

 

In the quarter-finals, UAM Tillers will play UNMAID Desert Warriors, UNILORIN tackles FUTMINNA Transformers while UNILAG Marines play AAUA Luminaries.