Unbeaten Ijapo Ages Stars Crowned Adu Unity Champions Again

Unbeaten Ijapo Ages Stars FC (Akure South) have defeated Idanre United 2–0 to be crowned champions of the Adu Unity Football Competition for the third consecutive time.

Monday James put Ijapo Ages Stars ahead in the first half of the final at the Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure, finishing off a sumptuous pass from Femi Kolawole.

Idanre United responded with some progressive play and good exchanges in midfield, but the defensive quartet of Jeremiah Michael, Femi Boboye, Dunsi Olaogbesibikan, and Eric Greg stood firm to preserve the lead going into the break.

A total of 23 teams registered for the tournament across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State, with 62 matches completed successfully without casualties.

The champions received ₦1,000,000, the runners-up ₦500,000, while the third- and fourth-placed teams earned ₦200,000 and ₦100,000 respectively.

Football artistry continued in the second half as supporters of both finalists cheered passionately from the stands. Idanre United made tactical adjustments and threatened from the flanks, but in-form three-time champion goalkeeper Ayomide Gabriel denied them repeatedly.

Both sides missed golden chances throughout the encounter, but energetic Femi Kolawole sealed the victory for Ijapo Ages Stars with a late strike that silenced the Idanre United fans.

Sporting Hope reported that George Ajayi emerged as the tournament’s top scorer, receiving a branded Adu Foundation jersey and two litres of branded palm oil. Goalkeeper Ayomide Gabriel was also named Best Goalkeeper, earning the same prize package.

Sponsor of the competition, Barrister Olumuyiwa Adu, congratulated both the champions and runners-up for their hard work and resilience, stressing that all participating teams were winners.

 “I thank and appreciate all the teams for believing in the Local Organising Committee. This is the third edition, and we are not stopping. We will continue contributing our quota to the development of sports in Ondo State,” he said.

Technical Director of Ijapo Ages Stars FC, Michael Karimu (Bora), praised his players for their discipline and dedication on and off the pitch, noting that “it is not easy to be champions.”

He also commended the sponsor for his consistency and commitment to football development, urging other philanthropists to emulate Barrister Adu.

The competition kept about 575 players, excluding officials, actively engaged for almost two months, helping to steer youths away from social vices through meaningful participation in sports.

 “If we have five or more of Olumuyiwa Adu in our state supporting grassroots football, the sky will be only the starting point for our youths,” Karimu added.

One of the coordinators of Ijapo Ages Stars FC, Femi Filegbe, lauded the organisers for delivering one of the best-run grassroots football competitions in recent times in Ondo State.

While appreciating the sponsor for championing grassroots development, he called on other well-meaning individuals within and outside the state to support government efforts in developing sports, noting that government cannot do it alone.