NNPC/Shell Cup: Hensen School, Benin, Holy Ghost College, Owerri For Final

In the first semi-final match played on Sunday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, the Hensen boys secured the first ticket with a 4-0 defeat of their counterparts from Government Day Secondary School, Lamisula, Borno State.

Ernest Ejolum opened the goal line in the 13th minute of play with the second goal coming barely five minutes after from Arase Iyobor, who made a good conversion of a corner kick. The first half of the match ended 3-0 with the third goal coming from Isaac Justice in the 23rd minute.

The Government College boys made frantic efforts and goal attempts to reduce the margin in the second half but missed every opportunity they had. The victory for the Hensen boys was sealed when Ernest recorded his second goal in the 78th minute of play to close the match at 4-0.

In the second semi-final match, Holy Ghost College, Owerri trounced the boys from Sambo Secondary School, Gusau, Zamfara State 3:1 to book the second slot for the final. Talent Okeke broke the goalless tie in the second half in the 58th minute but the equaliser came from Yakubu Digaro four minutes after. Talent increased the tally almost immediately with his second goal while the third goal for the Owerri boys came from Ogbuehi Nzubechi to give final victory to the team.

The matches were watched by coaching crew from the youth academy of the Dutch League Champions, Rotterdam Football Club, the Netherlands; the Director and Principal, Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba, Rev. Chris Ugorji, who represented the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu; Prof. Richard Follet from the University of Sussex, UK; and the leadership of The Shell Petroleum Development Company.

The third place and final matches will be played at the same venue on July 4.

The University of Sussex is offering the most valuable player of the tournament a place in their 2018 International Summer School, a four-week gathering of brilliant young people from all over the world.