Team Ward E representatives of Seriki-Aro, Ipodo, and Alade communities in the ongoing Ikeja Games football competition, powered by Rt. Hon James Abiodun Faleke has booked their passage to the semifinal after thrashing their opponent from Onilekere Ward D 3 goals to nil on Thursday
The enterprising Ikeja All-Stars side proved they meant business from the blast of the whistle as their well-knitted strings of passes drew applause from the watching fans of both sides
It didn’t take long before their midfield sensation Smith Anara who missed their first game, find his way through the defense of the Onilekere/Onipetesi boys after he received a sublime pass from Fatai Omolabake, before dribbling two oncoming defenders and blasting the shot passed the goalkeeper of the Ward D team into the net
The Ward D team were lucky not to have conceded more goals in the first half, as the Ward E attackers Daniel Onuoha, Christopher Monday, and Jacob Emmanuel tormented them and lost several scoring chances before the referee called for halftime.
At the resumption of the second half, the Ward E side were determined to continue where they stopped before the halftime break, as they continue mesmerizing the defense of their opponent before Christopher Monday scored from Deji Taiwo’s assist to increase the tally to two goals for the Ward E boys.
The third goal for the side came off the boot of Smith Anara who received a through pass from Monday and neatly placed it past the Onilekere Onipetesi goalkeeper for his brace to stand him out for the goal-scoring award and sealed the semifinal ticket for the Ward E lads.
Captains for both sides Emmanuel Jacob for Team Ikeja Ward E and Gaddy Friday of Ward D expressed their sincere gratitude to Rt. Hon James Abiodun Faleke for providing the platform for them to exhibit their God-given talents
They also promised to reciprocate his support for the youths of the Ikeja Federal Constituency by mobilizing youths across the 10 wards to massively vote for him in the forthcoming election.
In the first quarterfinal match, Ward C representing Oregun, Alausa and Olusosun Victor Osimhen’s local club, defeated Ward B of Agidingbi/Ojodu 1 goal to nil through the effort of Ephraim Nwanchukwu after missing several scoring chances.
The Ward E side are confronting the Ward C team on Sunday in the first semifinal match on Sunday
Meanwhile, the remaining two quarterfinal matches come up on Friday.
Ward G battles Ward F in the third quarterfinal game, while Ward J from Opebi/Allen will confront Ward I from GRA/Police Barracks for the final semifinal ticket
The Ikeja Games Football final match has been fixed for 5th February 2023, at the Police College, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos. To be followed with a gala nite for all the over 600 athletes that participated in the 4-week grassroots sports festival proudly initiated and powered by the top rank Member of the House of representatives for Ikeja Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon James Abiodun Faleke in partnership with National Institute for Sports, NIS.
