Teams across different tertiary institutions in Nigeria are getting ready to contest for honours in the 2023 edition of Higher Institutions Football League (HiFL) which kicks off in few months from now. Black Campus sports gathered that teams are already fine tuning their preparations for the tournament. As usual, Pace Sports and Entertainment Marketing organisers of the game has promised that this year’s edition will be “more than a game” with other exciting activities which have been concluded for this 6th edition of the games.
Director, PACE Sports, Sola Fijabi said, preparations are in top gear to ensure that lovers of football in the country enjoy the best of collegiate football this season by building on the successes recorded in previous seasons. He said the projection is to make HiFL the biggest tertiary institutions competition in Africa with the support of all relevant stakeholders. “We sincerely appreciate our sponsors, Stanbic IBTC and BOLD Drinks for their esteemed support and commitment to developing the Nigerian youths and collegiate sports,” he stated.
“…preparations are in top gear to ensure that lovers of football in the country enjoy the best of collegiate football this season by building on the successes recorded in previous seasons.”
KSU Steelers from Kogi State University, Akungba became the first state-owned university to win the prestigious Higher Institutions Football League (HiFL).
In a thrilling match played at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex, KSU Steelers came from a goal down to defeat the FOUYE Dazzlers from the Federal University Oye Ekiti by 3-1 in the final of the HiFL 2022 season.
The match had barely started when a Dazzlers striker was hacked down by one of the Steelers defenders. Kolawole Oladapo converted the resulting penalty kick to put the Dazzlers ahead. However, geared by the presence of their Vice-Chancellor Prof. Marietu Ohunene Tenube, KSU Steelers equalized through Samuel Odutola in the 3rd minute while the fans of the Dazzlers were still celebrating their lead. The first half ended 1-1.
The second half started on a fiery note as both teams cancelled themselves out until mid-way into the second half when Mohammed Suleiman, the captain of the Steelers and StanbicIBTC Man-of-the-match scored the second goal for the Steelers. Anuba Ojochenemi finally put a stop to the quest of the Dazzlers when he scored the third goal.
Earlier in the third-place match, UNN Lions from the University of Nigeria Nsukka secured the slot which they won last year by defeating the UNILORIN Warriors 1-0. The Lions’ goal was scored by Chukwu Echere Lawrence.
