As the 14th edition of the prestigious Ships & Ports Maritime Cup Competition approaches its crescendo, the Lagos sports scene is abuzz with anticipation and exhilaration.
Today, the competition, which kicked off on October 15, saw two fierce quarter-final matches that have set the stage for a thrilling semi-final showdown.
Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) both emerged victorious in their respective matches, marking their place in the tournament’s semi-finals and positioning themselves as the forces to watch in this year’s maritime cup competition.
The first quarter-final clash was a high-stakes duel between NSC, the Group B runner-up, and Group A winner, ENL Consortium, who entered the match with the advantage of being past champions, clinching the cup in 2019.
The 9 a.m. kick-off at the historic NPA Sports Complex in Surulere, Lagos, was overseen by none other than the celebrated FIFA-badged referee, Ajala Oluwamuyiwa, known for his expertise in steering tense games.
Fans were treated to an electric atmosphere as both teams gave it their all, crafting an unyielding first half that ended in a goalless stalemate. The second half, however, saw a turning point when NSC’s star forward, Charles Chris, wearing jersey number 14, made an astonishing play just 12 minutes in, sending the ball decisively into ENL’s net. Chris’s lone goal not only proved to be the match-winner but also a defining moment that displayed NSC’s tactical depth and determination.
The battle was not without its intense moments; the match witnessed four yellow cards, each a testament to the fierce competition on the field.
NSC defenders Finim Egbe and Mohammed Kolo, and eventually, Charles Chris himself, received cautions at the 6th, 31st, and 71st minutes, respectively. ENL’s substitute Timothy Babatunde joined the list in the 65th minute, as both teams struggled to outmanoeuvre one another in a match that epitomised skill, tenacity, and discipline.
Ultimately, NSC emerged victorious, eliminating the once-undefeatable ENL Consortium and advancing with a confidence that has now sent ripples of excitement across the tournament.
Simultaneously, at the Stable Sports Complex, another unforgettable match unfolded. NIWA, the runner-up from Group A, took on the formidable Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), a five-time tournament champion.
The odds were stacked against NIWA, but what transpired on the field was nothing short of a sports marvel. Grade 1 FIFA referee K.A. Makinde kept a steady hand over the action-packed encounter, in which NCS first broke through at the 29th minute. Shafiu Kabiru, NCS’s leading striker, netted a stunning goal, and it looked as though the Customs side might maintain its grip over the game. Yet, NIWA responded with incredible resolve; 12 minutes later, their striker Abdullahi Sanni seized the opportunity and drove the ball into NCS’s net, levelling the score at 1-1 before half-time.
With neither side able to secure a lead throughout the second half, the quarter-final match moved into a nail-biting penalty shootout, where NIWA triumphed, sealing a 5-4 victory.
The defeat was a bitter blow for Customs, who, for the first time in the tournament’s history, bowed out at the quarter-final stage, signalling a changing tide in the Maritime Cup landscape.
This year’s competition has thus far been nothing short of spectacular, brimming with upsets, underdog triumphs, and displays of skill that have enthralled fans and heightened the excitement for the semi-final round. As NSC and NIWA march on, their quarter-final performances stand as a testament to the unpredictable and thrilling nature of the Ships & Ports Maritime Cup. The question on every fan’s lips now is: who will continue their journey to claim maritime glory?
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