In Abuja, Legend FC from Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) triumphed over Maracana FC from Kwali with a score of 2-1, clinching the first-ever Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi FCT unity football championship on Saturday.
The prestigious final match, held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, marked the culmination of a month-long competition among teams representing the six area councils of the FCT.
Opening the scoring in the 38th minute, Kelechi Francis of Legend FC took the lead, only for Sheriff Idris of Maracana FC to equalize in the 47th minute of the second half.
However, Francis secured the victory for Legend FC with a flawless finish in the 52nd minute, ensuring a 2-1 triumph.
Prior to the final match, Kickers FC emerged victorious in the third-place match by defeating N-Youth FC 5-4 in a penalty shootout, following a 2-2 draw in regular time.
Mrs. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the organizer of the championship, revealed to journalists after the match that the tournament was established to encourage unity and unearth budding talents distributed across the FCT.
The media mogul and former All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial hopeful for FCT emphasized that sports could empower Nigerian youth and foster unity within the nation.
“This inaugural competition aims to engage our youth and promote unity in the country, starting with FCT.
“If there is no unity, there cannot be a nation. So, we are using sports to effect positive change, get our youth off the streets, and build a strong nation,” she stated.
Benjamins-Laniyi also disclosed that renowned ex-internationals like Kanu Nwankwo and Femi Ajilore were chosen as ambassadors of the competition, providing inspiration and mentorship to young talents discovered during the tournament.