Get Guardian on GoogleYoung 11 FA proved too good to be knocked off the top of the ladder at curtain came down on the regular season of the 2026 Nathaniel Idowu U-16 Football League on Saturday, with an action-packed Matchday 9 producing 18 goals across five fixtures.
Saturday’s games confirmed the four teams that will continue their title pursuit in the Super 4 playoffs.
After nine weeks of exciting grassroots football, Young 11 FA, Fortune FA, Ajegunle United SC and SC Heritage emerged as the competition’s top performers, earning their places in the season-ending championship showdown.
At the summit of the standings is Young 11 FA, whose remarkable consistency throughout the campaign saw them complete the regular season unbeaten. Seven victories and two draws from nine matches yielded 23 points, enough to secure top spot heading into the playoffs.
Their final outing was a convincing 3-1 victory over Divinely Blessed FA at the Nathaniel Idowu Football Pitch, Oregie, a result that further reinforced their credentials as serious title contenders.
Fortune FA were equally impressive on the final day, signing off their campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory over Atico FA at the New Maracana Sports Complex in Tolu.
Akanbi Quadri set the tone with an early opener in the fifth minute before Odesola Odunayo doubled the advantage eight minutes later. Oyesi Fuhad and Agbato Wasiu added further goals as Fortune produced one of their most complete performances of the season.
The win saw Fortune finish second on 18 points, boasting an impressive goal difference of +19, the best attacking record among the league’s leading teams.
Ajegunle United SC claimed third place after a comfortable 3-0 triumph over Seraphic FA. The victory moved them to 17 points, with a superior goal difference of +10 allowing them to edge SC Heritage in the final standings.
SC Heritage, however, ensured their place in the Super 4 with an entertaining 4-2 victory over St. Petersburg FA at Oregie.
The star performers were Norbert Jonathan and Mutar Adetoro, who each scored twice in a dominant display. Jonathan struck in the 16th and 88th minutes, while Adetoro found the net in the 56th and 72nd minutes. St. Petersburg FA’s goals came courtesy of Isiaka Basit and Kolawole Abdulsalam.
The victory lifted Heritage to 17 points and secured fourth place with a goal difference of +7.
Away from the race for qualification, one of the most memorable individual displays of the final round came from Bright Stars SA forward Feranmi Akinwale. The talented youngster scored a superb hat-trick in his side’s 3-1 victory over Moore Wins Foundation FA, finding the target in the seventh, 67th and 90th minutes.
Jeffery Adekola grabbed the consolation goal for Moore Wins Foundation FA, but the result was not enough to alter the final standings. Bright Stars ended the campaign in fifth place on 16 points, agonisingly missing out on the Super 4 by just a single point.
Atico FA finished sixth with 13 points, while Moore Wins Foundation FA ended the season with 10 points. St. Petersburg FA, Divinely Blessed FA and Seraphic FA completed the final league table.
With the regular season now concluded, attention turns to the Super 4, scheduled for November 7, 2026. With four of the league’s strongest teams still in the hunt, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the season.
