36 Lion FC and SGFC Athletics have advanced to the Jagaban Cup final following their matches on Wednesday at the Legacy Pitch in Surulere. This advancement comes after the conclusion of the final group stage games, where the tournament rules dictate that the top team from each group move on to the final.
Meanwhile, Ikorodu City will face Ijebu United in the third place.
In the day’s opening match, Ijebu United triumphed over Dino SC with a score of 3-2 in a captivating contest. Dino took an early lead when Agbede Hassan capitalized on a misplayed back pass by Howas Fidel. Ijebu United equalized through a penalty by Onyemaechi Uchechukwu, but Hassan struck again with a long-range effort. Ekeh Emenike brought the score level for the team in yellow, but Onyemaechi secured the win with a deflected shot.
The second match saw SGFC clinch their spot in the final with a narrow 1-0 win against Imperial FC. Both teams had chances to score but were unable to convert. The breakthrough came in the 55th minute when Joseph Emmanuel unleashed a powerful long-range shot that found the back of the net, propelling his team to the final on Thursday.
In a dramatic turn of events, 36 Lion FC managed to draw 1-1 against Bethel FC, replicating their comeback from Tuesday. Bethel FC initially took the lead just before halftime when Caleb Okereke capitalized on a rebound from Drame’s save following Eric Boma’s long-range shot. However, Lawal Oluwaseun secured a final spot for 36 Lion FC with a spectacular backheel goal twenty minutes before the end of the match.
The last game of the day featured Ikorodu City defeating Broad City 3-1 in an exciting finale. Dagogo Ibifubara opened the scoring after receiving a precise pass from Okeh Emmanuel, and the captain added another with a well-executed free kick in the 17th minute. Sanusi Hanif, who had been a constant threat, finally found the net to reduce the deficit for Broad City after several missed opportunities. Musa Malik then sealed the victory with a well-placed shot from inside the box, concluding a thrilling match.
Day 3 Results:
Dino SC 2-3 Ijebu United
SGFC Athletics 1-0 Imperial FC
36 Lion 1-1 Bethel FC
Ikorodu City 3-1 Broad City
