1st Sar’dauna of Ilorin U16 Championship enters quarter-final

The eight quarter-finalists of the maiden edition of Sar’dauna of Ilorin Cup competition have emerged, ahead of the knock-out stage tomorrow, Monday February 3, 2025.

Asa and Baruten both ended Group A with seven points each, and finishing with same goals difference, after two wins and a draw each. Irepodun, with three points and Ilorin East, with no point at all lost out of the race.

Ilorin West and Kaiama qualified for the quarter-finals from Group B, dusting Oke-Ero and Ilorin South from the group.

Ifelodun, with two wins and a draw topped Group C after the group hostilities, followed by Oyun, which finished with six points. Both Edu, with four points and Ekiti, which ended with no point and a huge goal deficit of nine goals dropped out of the competition.

Moro emerged from Group D with maximum points, after triumphs over Isin, Offa and Patigi teams. Offa qualified as second placed team in the group, leaving Isin, with three points and Patigi, which also ended with no point and a huge goal deficit of nine goals out of the race.

The quarter-final matches holds tomorrow, with Baruten taking on Kaiama in all-Kwara North affair from 10.00am, while Group B winners, Ilorin West takes on Asa at the same time, 10.00am.

The two other quarter-final matches are Moro taking on Oyun from 12.00noon, with Offa expected to slug it out against Ifelodun, also by 12.00noon.

The competition kicked off on Friday, with all the 16 Local Government Area teams in the state fielding teams to contest for honours in the competition introduced to celebrate the birthday of Kwara Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

While welcoming the teams to Ilorin on Friday, the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bola Magaji commended the Organizers of the Sar’dauna Cup 2025 for their commitment to transparency and compliance in the screening process.

Mallam Magaji, who witnessed the screening exercise before the commencement of the tournament, praised the efforts of Ultimate Sports Consult Limited in ensuring that the competition is free from age cheating.

He equally commended the Chairmen of the 16 Local Government Areas for supporting the grassroots development initiative.

“I am satisfied with what I saw on the ground, and it’s encouraging to see such a high standard being set. This is a template that other competitions should emulate,” he said.

He charged the players to see it as another opportunity to exhibit it their God given talents, while also reminding them to take their education serious.

“Sports is dynamic, and being a sportsman or woman does not limit your greatness in life. You can go to school and still be an athlete or footballer, depending on your area of talent,” he said.

Mallam Magaji thanked all the stakeholders, including Local Football Councils, Local Government Sports Coordinators, the media, and others, for their support.

He commended the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq who is the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, for a encouraging the platform for the youths to develop.

Also welcoming the teams, Alhaji AbdulRazaq Owolabi Wopa Agbaji commended the Local Government Chairmen for supporting the initiative. He commended the Kwara FA Chairman, Mallam Idris Abdullahi Musa Thuraya and others, for their support.

The competition is being organised by the Kwara State Sports Commission, in conjunction with Ultimate Sports Consult Limited, and sponsored by Kwara ALGON.

QUARTER-FINAL PARINGS

Baruten Vs Kaiama -10am
Ilorin west Vs Asa -10am
Moro Vs Oyun -12pm
Ifelodun Vs Offa -12pm

*All matches will hold at the Kwara Football Academy.

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