Abia State’s boys soccer group are champions as soon as once more on the Nationwide Youth Video games after edging Oyo State 1–0 in a tense closing in Asaba.
The defending champions needed to dig deep in a sport that produced few clear possibilities, with each side locked in a cagey battle all through the primary half. After the restart, nevertheless, Coach Ogbonna Ikwuako’s pep discuss appeared to elevate the Abia boys, who grew in confidence and commenced to impose themselves on the competition.
The decisive second got here within the dying minutes when Paul Bassey Offiong struck a late winner, sparking wild celebrations from the Abia bench and followers within the stands. The solitary purpose proved sufficient to safe back-to-back gold medals for Abia in boys soccer.
A delighted Coach Ikwuako praised his group’s resilience and composure underneath strain, dedicating the victory and gold medal to the folks of Abia State and for the Authorities unwavering assist. Whereas acknowledging the standard of the Oyo facet, the coach maintained that his boys all the time had the sport underneath management.
With this victory, Abia not solely defended the crown they received on the eighth Nationwide Youth Video games but in addition reaffirmed their standing as a dominant pressure in youth soccer.
