By Samuel Akpan in Abeokuta
Team Kwara has secured their spot in the male football final at the ongoing National Sports Festival (NSF) – Gateway Games – in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
They triumphed over Kaduna State with a hard-fought 1-0 victory in Sunday’s semi-final, played at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, about 50 kilometres away from Abeokuta.
This win further solidifies Kwara’s impressive history in grassroots youth football development, consistently producing talented players through their robust youth programmes and local competitions.
The final is set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27, at the Main Bowl of the MKO Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta.
Team Kwara will face host state Ogun, who earned their place in the final after a 2-1 win against the Golden Eaglets in the second semi-final.
Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets, participating under the National Sports Commission’s Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) initiative, will compete against Team Kaduna in the third-place playoff on Tuesday at the Remo Stars Stadium.
The impending final is poised to be a compelling battle between two of Nigeria’s most successful football development hubs.
Both teams have consistently demonstrated strong tactical discipline and cultivated homegrown talent throughout the tournament.
Kwara’s renowned football academies and underage leagues have firmly established the state as a significant breeding ground for both national and international football stars.
With the stage now set, a thrilling encounter is expected between Kwara and Ogun as they vie for victory in this highly anticipated final.
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