The second edition of the Under-19 Football Tournament, hosted by Enyimba FC Chairman Nwankwo Kanu, commenced on Friday in Aba, featuring three matches on its inaugural day.
Organised by Ifeanyi Ekwueme, the Enyimba Sporting Director, this tournament aims to identify talents for the clubs and began in 2024.
According to reports from the News Agency of Nigeria, six teams competed for dominance at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba on Friday.
The competition is divided into two venues, Aba and Owerri, with the champions from each location set to face off in the grand finale at the Enyimba International Stadium.
Participating teams at the Aba venue include Enyimba FC Under-17, Ngwa United FC, and Aba Madrid FC, all hailing from Aba, along with Petson Academy and Okwu United from Umuahia.
The defending champions, Apex Crane FC from Enugu, complete the lineup of six teams and secured a victory over Enyimba’s Under-17 with a solitary goal in the opening match of the day.
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In other match outcomes, Aba Madrid FC ended in a 1-1 draw with Okwu United FC, while Ngwa United played to a goalless draw against Petson Academy in the final match of the day.
Coach Isaac Loute of Apex Crane FC, a former player for Enugu Rangers, praised the players and expressed confidence that the tournament would fulfil its objective of talent discovery.
“I was impressed by what I observed in the first match against our rivals, Enyimba Under-17, which demonstrated that there are indeed talents in the lower league.
“This tournament is beneficial for the youth, and I believe that by the conclusion of the event, there will be significant progress as it unfolds,” Loute remarked.
The Enyimba media reported that matches will resume on June 16 at the Enyimba International Stadium starting at 9 am.
