Champion team now ready for Napoli 2019
LAGOS – After fourteen weeks of intense and exciting competition, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi (UAM Tillers) emerged as the winner of the first ever Nigeria Higher Institution Football League (HiFL).
The tournament, organized by the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) had kicked off with the top 16 teams among the 79 NUGA Member institutions. These 16 universities played each other in 30 league matches, split across the Sahel (North) and Coastal (South) Conferences.
After goalless 120 minutes play between the UAM Tillers and University of Calabar (UNICAL Malabites), the final match was decided 5-4 in a penalty shootout. Ebuka David Odenigbo from the UAM Tillers won the ‘Elite Player of the Tournament’ award, for his 8 goals in 7 matches – a name certainly to watch out for as he is already on the scouting list of several club sides in the Nigerian Professional Football League, the NPFL.
David, who took his side’s last penalty kick said: “I appreciate my teammates, officials and my school for their efforts in making me the highest top scorer. I took the last penalty because I have the confidence and the team has the confidence in me. I have never lost a penalty since I started my career, so I believe that’s what inspired me out there on the pitch”.
The UAM Tillers will hope to continue their impressive feat in Naples, Italy where they are expected to represent Nigeria at the Napoli 2019 Summer Universiade.