Gateway Games 2024: Soccer power house Kwara sets for final showdown with hosts Ogun

Team Kwara will battle host state Ogun in the final of the male football event at the ongoing National Sports Festival (NSF) – Gateway Games 2024 – after a gritty 1-0 victory over Kaduna State in Sunday’s semi-final.

The much-anticipated final is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27, at the Main Bowl of the MKO Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta.

Kwara’s triumph continues the state’s long-standing tradition of excellence in grassroots youth football development.

Over the years, the state has produced a steady stream of talented players through its robust youth systems and community-based competitions such as the Kwara Football Academy and the state’s underage leagues.

This pedigree has earned Kwara a reputation as a breeding ground for national and international football talents.

On their part, hosts Ogun State also secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over the Golden Eaglets—the national U-17 team participating under the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) initiative of the National Sports Commission—in the second semi-final.

With both teams displaying strong tactical discipline and homegrown flair throughout the tournament, Tuesday’s final promises to be a showcase of two of Nigeria’s most vibrant football development hubs.

Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets will take on Team Kaduna in the third-place playoff, also scheduled for Tuesday at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.

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