Gateway Games Football: Ogun Defeats Delta 2-1, Moves to Semi-Final Stage

By: Olufemi Orunsola 

Team Ogun State has successfully secured a place in the semi-finals of the football event at the ongoing National Sports Festival after defeating Team Delta in a thrilling 2-1 win that qualified the host state for the quarter finals.

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that the host team scored the first goal through Remo Stars winger Jabbar Malik, who broke the deadlock in the 21st minute with a fine finish that gave the host state and its teeming supporters into an early frenzy of celebrations.

However, in a swift response, barely three minutes after the first goal by Team Ogun, Team Delta through its pjayer, Qudus, netted an equalizer goal bringing the game to a 1-1 equalizer at the end of the first half.

OTN News further reports that the second half of the match spelt an intense battle with both sides pushing for a decisive goal. Ogun State, spurred on by a vocal home crowd, maintained pressure and composure until the 86th minute when Musa Abdullahi delivered the game changing moment when the forward completed a well-worked team move to score the match-winner, sending the stadium into a frenzy.

Reacting after the game, Ogun’s head  coach praised the victory is a testament to the fighting spirit of our boys. They never gave up, and now we are just one win away from the final.”

With the win, Ogun will now face Team Kaduna in the semi-finals, as they continue their push for gold in front of their fans.

In other quarter-final matches, the U-17 National Team (Flamingoes) crushed Ebonyi State with a 5-0 rout, while Kwara State defeated Imo State 2-0 to advance.

The Quarter-Final Match Results are as follow:

Ebonyi State 0 – 5 Flamingoes

Kwara State 2 – 0 Imo State

Ogun State 2 – 1 Delta State

Meanwhile, upcoming Semi-Final Fixtures at the Gateway Games include:

Kwara State vs U-17 National Team

Ogun State vs Kaduna State