FC Ebedei emerged victorious in the inaugural Cool Hopefuls Cup, defeating B. E Arena FC 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. The intense final took place at the FC Ebedei Stadium in Apele-Sagamu, Ogun State, bringing an electrifying conclusion to the preseason and scouting tournament sponsored by Ebedei Sports College.
The two teams had previously faced off in the group stage, where FC Ebedei secured a narrow 1-0 win over B. E Arena FC. However, the final proved to be a tougher challenge, as both sides were determined to claim the prestigious title.
The first half of the match saw both teams display tactical discipline, but neither side managed to break the deadlock. The intensity increased in the second half, and FC Ebedei struck first when Fanen Tekula found the back of the net in the 47th minute, giving his side a crucial lead.
FC Ebedei nearly doubled their advantage shortly after through Shile Lawal, who had been one of the standout performers of the tournament. However, his goal was ruled out for offside, denying him what would have been his seventh goal of the competition.
B. E Arena FC responded strongly and restored parity in the 67th minute, thanks to a stunning goal from Emmanuel Nweke. His well-taken strike reinvigorated his team, setting up an intense final stretch of the match.
With both sides pushing for a late winner, goalkeepers Ojo Daniel of FC Ebedei and Chibuzor Nwaiwu of B. E Arena FC made crucial saves in the closing minutes, ensuring the game remained level at full-time and leading to a penalty shootout.
In the decisive shootout, FC Ebedei's goalkeeper, Ojo Daniel, proved to be the hero, making two key saves to deny B. E Arena FC. His teammates held their nerve, converting all four of their penalties to seal the championship victory.
With this triumph, FC Ebedei not only claimed the Cool Hopefuls Cup title but also reaffirmed their dominance in the tournament. Their disciplined performance and resilience throughout the competition underscored their pedigree as a formidable team in Nigerian grassroots football.
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