Remo Stars Wins MTN/NPFL/La Liga U15 Tournament
Remo Stars U15 have won the MTN/NPFL/La Liga U-15 tournament for the second year in a row after defeating Plateau United U15 by a solitary goal in a closely contested final which held at the Remo Stars stadium in Ikenne, Ogun state.
Both teams had played each other in the group stages, with Remo Stars U15 coming out on top 2-1 and both were clearly the best in the tournament going into the final. Remo Stars U15 came into the final with a perfect record, having scored 19 goals and kept two clean sheets, while Plateau United were in fine goal scoring form, having scored 15 goals throughout the tournament.
Both teams battled relentlessly in the final, with few chances created, but on the 51st minute mark, Opeyemi Yusuf scored his 10th goal of the tournament with a beautiful header into the back of the net to give his team a deserved lead. Plateau United U15 tried everything they could to get back into the game, but the Remo defense stood firm.
With his tenth goal of the tournament, Remo Stars dangerman Opeyemi Yusuf won the tournament’s top goal scorer award and set two records, becoming the All-Time Leading Scorer of the U15 tournament and the first player to score in all the tournament’s games. Abubakar Sidik, captain of El Kanemi Warriors U15, received the Articulate Award for displaying maturity during pre- and post-match press conferences.
Plateau United U15 were the biggest winners of the individual awards, emerging as the most organized team of the tournament. Plateau United’s Sumfat Julius won the Tournament Goal of the Tournament award for a fantastic curler against Sunshine Stars U15. Umar Bala of Plateau United won the Most Valuable Player Award after scoring five goals and being named Man of the Match in five games, and Plateau United’s Moses Chuwang won the Best Goalkeeper Award for his efforts between the posts.
MTN Nigeria, sponsors of the tournament, awarded cash prizes of N100,000 to each player who won an individual award at the tournament. When asked what he planned to do with the prize money, Sumfat Julius of Plateau United replied, “I’m going to buy land with my N100,000.”
Sunshine Stars U15 won the bronze medal in the third-place match earlier in the day, defeating El Kanemi Warriors U15 1-0.
