Naira rains on players as Victor Ikpeba Football Challenge ends in Lagos

Ikpeba. Photo/Ikengachronicles

The third Victor Ikpeba Five-A-Side Football Challenge ended in Lagos on Monday, with players and officials of the teams smiling to the bank. Eight teams participated in the 2023 edition, with Segun Ijitola Football Club of Surulere, emerging the new champions of the competition held at its traditional venue, Obele Odan Community Centre, Fujah, Surulere.

The 2023 edition was tagged ‘Appreciation,’ as the sponsor, Victor Ikpeba, who was the 1997 African Footballer of the Year, said he hosted it in appreciation of the great opportunity given to him by Nigeria to become a world-class soccer star.

In the final match played on Monday, June 12, which was Ikpeba’s birthday, FC Segun Ijitola defeated Chidi Chukwuka FC 2-0 to lift the Gold Cup and win the N200,000 cash prize.

Ikechukwu scored the first goal in the final match, as he capitalised on a defensive error by the opponent to give his team a 1-0 lead in the first half.

In the second half, Dewunmi Omolaja made it 2-0 after connecting a pass from his teammate, Qudus, with five minutes to the end of the game. For finishing in second place, Chidi Chukwuka FC went home with a cash prize of N100, 000 courtesy of the sponsor, Victor Ikpeba. They also got a trophy and silver medals.

Idris FC of Surulere won third position by defeating Lukmon FC 1-0 in the losers’ final. Idris FC got a cash prize of N70,000, a trophy and bronze medals for their efforts.

Speaking with The Guardian at the end of the competition, Ikpeba said it was his little way of giving back to the society.

“I grew up playing street football before I made it to the national team. I have been doing this for the past three years in Lagos and Warri, Delta State. But unlike the five-a-side