Sports
THE 2024 Ships and Ports Maritime Cup draws curtains on Wednesday as Comets Shipping Agents defeated Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) 2-1 in a epic final, to win the championship cup.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 12 companies in the maritime industry competed for honours in the football competition, which held from Oct.15 to Nov. 6 in Lagos.
The match saw NSC dominating ball proceedings from the blast of the whistle, pushing Comets to the edge, but were unsuccessful at delivering the much needed goals.
However, with NSC mounting countless pressure to penetrate their opponent, it was Comets who drew the first blood in the 17 minutes through their forward player, Aminu Usman.
Aminu was able to beat the NSC goalkeeper with a well taken curvy free kick.
Shocked about the COMETS lead, NSC pushed harder to get their equaliser but at most times, met a very determined and well organised COMETS defence line.
NSC would get their goal in the 33rd minutes of the game from Rashid Ajadi, when he connected with a cross from the right wing, to easily tap in and beat the COMET keeper.
The first half ended 1-1 but not without both teams working their socks out to cancel each other out and exert dominance on the game.
COMETS took the game to NSC with a more purposeful approach in the second half and would get their all important goal in the 57 minutes.
This was following a good combination of passes that fell kindly to Richard Onyema to slot in and beat NSC goalkeeper.
COMETS, displaying good charismatic and energetic skills, would hold on to their lead and everything thrown at them, to the end of the match for an emotional victory.
The Head Coach of COMETS, Gbenga Popoola, told NAN that his team hard worked hard to win the match and deserved all the praises.
“We worked hard to work on the match as a team. We made some changes that affected the game, at the end we are glad our tactics worked out fine,” Popoola said.
In his reactions, the Head Coach of NSC, Jamiu Ajao told NAN that his team had played well, but were unlucky to get their all important goals.
“It’s one of those other things in football; you do all the playing but lose the match, it’s a sad loss,”Ajao said.
NAN reports that Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) beat Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), 2-1, to win the third place match
Micheal Ugbogu, the Managing Director for Micura Services, won the Most Valuable Player Award while Mobarack Usman for NPA won the best goalkeeper award.
COMET forward player, Richard Onyema, won the highest goalscorer award, for contributing goals to his teams success.
Dangote Ports Operations won the Fair Play Award.(NAN)
A.I
Nov. 7, 2024
Tags: Micheal Ugbogu Mobarack Usman Richard Onyema
