Today, September 25, 2025, marks 1,338 days since the University of Ibadan hosted the last Pre-NUGA Games for universities in Zone B. Unlike the previous time, when Lead City University, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), and First Technical University showed up to compete for the right to represent the zone at the nationals, this time, only LAUTECH showed up. However, just like the previous time, the University of Ibadan football teams earned the right to compete at the Nigerian University Games Association Games, which will be held in Jos by November later this year.
The UI Amazons produced a determined remontada to win their game by two goals to one against the LAUTECH female team. Ordinarily, this would have meant that the UI Amazons would be on their way to Jos, but due to unclear reasons, the University of Ibadan Sports Council failed to register the team for the NUGA Games. This means that, regardless of the hard-fought comeback by the Amazons, the LAUTECH female will be representing zone B at the nationals.
At the end of the game and the beginning of the UI Pioneers match, only a handful of the supporters were aware of this information. As a result, the energy from the win set the tone for the support received by the UI Pioneers. In keeping with efforts to eradicate the use of mercenaries by universities, registered players of both schools were required to hold their JAMB admission letters as a means of identification.
After this was done, the UI Pioneers starting XI lined up as follows: Olami (GK), Bade (LB), Deji (CB), Emeka (CB), Jay (RB), Pamilerin (DM), Somod (DM), Heskeyman (AM), Mbappe (LWF), Korede (CF), and Mjay [C] (RWF). Kickoff was exactly at 11:50 AM, and right off the bat, the LAUTECH players tried to stamp their authority on the game with their physicality, committing two fouls in the opening five minutes. As the first half wore on, clear-cut chances were few and far between for both teams, with the clearest chance of the half falling to the UI Pioneers centre forward, Korede, from a brilliant layoff pass from Mjay; however, he could not convert. A few minutes after that, Pamilerin had his thunderous half volley parried onto the post and out for a throw-in by the LAUTECH goalkeeper. The first half ended just a few minutes after that flurry of activity with the deadlock intact.
The second half brought goals, but before the goals, LAUTECH maintained its philosophy of playing out from the back, and they managed to beat the Pioneers’ press every time. The first goal came from a penalty kick awarded to the UI Pioneers after the ball was deliberately handled by the LAUTECH number 13, to prevent an Mbappe goal. The player was sent off, and the resulting spot kick was converted by Deji.
LAUTECH tried to get back into the rhythm despite the numerical disadvantage, but they were overwhelmed and eventually overwhelmed after Ohunrere, who came on for Korede, played in a low cross for Mbappe, who did just enough to get the ball into the back of the net, rewarding the UI Pioneers with their second goal of the game. After this, it was just game management for Coach Allen, who brought in VK and Demilade at different points to seal the game.
In post-match reactions with the press, Mjay, the UI Pioneers captain, said, “LAUTECH expectedly gave them a tough fight, but he was confident before the game that his team was going to win.” He acknowledged the massive support from the fans, thanking the UI’SU and other PR departments for the role they played in getting the word out. Finally, on the chances of UI Pioneers at NUGA Games, he had this to say, “As I have told other people, we will do better this year. We have the mentality, and we are going for the win.”
On speaking with Samuel, the LAUTECH number 5, he said, “We tried our best, but we were not clinical enough when we had our chances.” He said his team was already looking ahead and promised they would work harder to be better when next the opportunity arises.
After consecutively doing the double over neighbors, LAUTECH, in the Pre-NUGA, we must investigate the reason for the failure of the UI Sports Council to register the UI Amazons, while the UI Pioneers have their sights firmly set on national glory.
