Ify Babes win maiden Ajide U20 Football Championship

IFY Babes at the weekend defeated Uma Academy to win the maiden edition of the Tajudeen Ajide U20 Football Championship played at the Legacy Pitch of the Lagos National Stadium, Surulere.  

The interesting finale, which dragged into a penalty shootout after 1-1 draw, ended 5-3 in favour of Ify Babes.  

Earlier, Banjoh FA took the bronze medal by defeating Phoenix FA 2-1, courtesy of a brace from one of the tournament’s revelations, 17-year-old Ibrahim Omoola.  

The final match watched by an impressive crowd had the winners taking the lead early in the first half, while Puma FA piled up pressure to equalize through the spot kick.

Puma, however, had themselves to blame as they failed to take repeated chances begging for conversion. In the ensuing penalty kicks, Ify Babes converted all their kicks while Puma captain, who had earlier scored from the spot, threw away his second spot kick of the evening.

The competition, which was bankrolled by the Executive Chairman of Surulere local government, Tajudeen Ajide and organized by the Association of Proprietors of Football Academies of Nigeria (APFAN, was graced by several ex-Nigeria internationals, including President of National Association of Nigerian Professional Footballers (NANPF), Tijani Babangida, former Abiola Babes captain, Tajudeen Disu, Toyin Ayinla, Bremner Aladah, Abiodun Odejimi and former Super Eagles, and Julius Berger coach, Joe Erico.