Team Lagos has defeated its Delta State counterpart in the finals of
the female football event of the 2019 National Youth Games in Ilorin,
Kwara State to win the gold medal.
The game, held in the main bowl of the University of Ilorin Sports
Complex, ended 1 – 0 in favour of the Lagos side through a first-half
goal scored by Similoluwa Okeshiji who outpaced opponents’ backline to
finish with a flourish.
It was a joyous moment for the Lagos contingents at the sound of the
final whistle as the girls made history by winning gold in the female
football event for the first time at the National Youth Games.
While promising that the girls will continue to work hard to play in
the National team, Okeshiji, the goal scorer, attributed the team’s
victory to hard work and the support from the Lagos State Government.
She expressed delight at the victory, saying “We didn’t believe that
the Delta team could play better than us because we believe in what we
have. We believe in Lagos because the State encouraged us to achieve
something better. We trained very well before coming for the National
Youth Games”.
She recalled that the training commenced four months ago and made it
possible for the players to understand one another’s pattern of play
and ability on the field.
“We really thank God for today’s victory and the team’s success at the
Youth Games. We won gold because we know that something good will come
out of this and that’s why we put in all our efforts.
Not only that, we also know that by this achievement, we are going far
by representing the country. Not only Nigeria we are going to play
abroad,” Okeshiji predicted.
The Lagos female team defeated Akwa Ibom by 2 – 0 to qualify for the
finals of the football competition.
2019 NYG: Handball Events Final Standing
MALE:
Sokoto – GOLD
Niger – SILVER
Borno – BRONZE
FEMALE:
Kwara – GOLD
Lagos – SILVER
Delta – BRONZE
…wins male football gold medal
Just like their female counterparts, the Lagos Male football team, on
Friday, beat Team Delta by a lone goal to win the gold medal in the
finals of the National Youth Games tournament decided at the
‘Maracana’ Stadium, University of Ilorin, Kwara State.
Team Lagos’ representatives were in control of the game from the
start, missing many goals that could have put them ahead in the first
half of the encounter.
However, the lads from Lagos State got an advantage to nod home their
first corner kick of the game through Aruna Hassan who wore jersey
number 13.
