Before Saturday’s grand finale, the nation’s third-tier league will be having its Congress, where the roadmap to the new season will be discussed by the NLO Board and clubs.
The wait is over, as it has finally come down to the epic day of the NLO Cup, sponsored by telecommunications giant MTN and FirstCentral Credit Bureau, as an impressive Palm Syrup will aim to spoil Tudun Wada’s party at the Bwari Stadium, Abuja.
Sixteen (16) best grassroot teams were selected to showcase the beautiful brand of NLO football, as they dared to dream of lifting the trophy at the end of the tourney, when the group stage began from November 24th to December 9 at two centres, the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano and Uyo Township Stadium, Uyo.
Only Tudun Wada FC, who were winners of the inaugural NLO Super Cup at the Uboma Secondary School Stadium Complex, Imo State and Palm Syrup are left standing ahead of this weekend’s final.
The path to the final for both clubs:
This game brings together a clash of styles, though it is going to be a familiar territory for Tudun Wada FC, as they go into the final as the overwhelming favourite.
They are yet to lose a single game, and were very clinical in front of goal, scoring nine (9) and defensively conceding three (3).
Tudun Wada had a slow start to their campaign in lone goal wins against
Barau/Murtala and Like Minds FC, but fired the burner beating FC Zeal Minds FC 4-2 to set-up a semi-final clash against Green Lock, whom they dispatched 3-1.
For Palm Syrup, they shouldn’t be taken lightly, as they are though and with a good mental strength. No easy for a team that lost it’s final group game to RORO FC to go past Kun Kalifah FC 6-5 in a nail biting penalty shootout in the semi-final.
They were not a too scoring side but they pulled surprises having the job done at the Uyo Centre. Palm Syrup edged both Krane FC and Jaguar FC 2-0 lost to RORO FC a lone goal, to go top of Group 2 (B) and set-up a titanic clash with free flowing and scoring Kun Khalifa.
After a tough 90minutes, both teams needed the lottery of penalties to book a ticket to Abuja. Palm Syrup turned the disadvantage to an advantage after missing their third spot kick, only for Kun Khalifa to miss their third and fourth kick, to win the thrilling 16 penalty kicks on 6-5, to zoom into the final.
Meanwhile, Tudun Wada FC are one game away from making history in Nigeria’s top grassroot football. Should they win on Saturday, the Kano-based team will become the first NLO side to win two inaugural tournaments – NLO Super Cup and NLO Cup.
For anxious fans of the Nationwide League One football brand, they can get to catch a glimpse of the third-place game, Kun Kalifah FC versus Green Lock and the final on the NLO TV App or on the NLO YouTube Channel, as both matches will be live streamed.
Group Stage
Krane FC 0-2 Palm Syrup
Palm Syrup FC 2-0 Jaguar FC
RORO FC 0-1 Palm Syrup
SEMI-FINAL
Palm Syrup 0-0 Kun Khalifa FC (6-5 on penalties)
Group Stage
Barau/Murtala 0-1 Tudun Wada
Tudun Wada FC 1-0 Like Minds FC
Tudun Wada FC 4-2 Zeal Minds FC
SEMI-FINAL
Tudun Wada 3-1 Green Lock
FINAL
Palm Syrup vs Tudun Wada
