On July 20, 2026, the final of the very first edition of the University of Ibadan Unity Cup was played between TomTom FC and United Superstars FC (USFC). The competition, featuring four teams from the University of Ibadan’s main campus and four from the UI Distance Learning Centre (UIDLC), has been full of intense emotional moments, thrilling matches, and spectacular performances.
We were at the Old Football Pitch, and fans were seated to see who would make history and clinch the trophy in the first edition of the competition. Its been quite an eventful road to the showpiece match, let’s take a look back at how we got here.
Group Stage
The competition comprised Group A and B; with four teams in each.
Group A: USFC, DA-EBS, Diggers FC and Vortex FC; the first two being teams from UI main campus and the other two from UIDLC.
Group B: Tomtom FC, Rebels FC, Goal Diggers FC, and Blaze FC; the first two being teams from UI main campus and the last two from UIDLC, just like in the latter.
The competition kicked off in earnest on Saturday, July 4, with the opening match was contested by Vortex FC and DA-EBS FC of Group A. Ironically, this fiercely contested encounter, which saw both teams creating opportunities, saw the result say otherwise; as the match ended goalless.
Later in the day, USFC took on Diggers FC, and we seemed at first to be headed for a replica of the opening match, with the first half producing zero goals. But when the second half got underway, and before Diggers FC regained their poise, USFC had already netted three goals. In the end, Diggers FC managed to pull one back but it was USFC who ran away with all three points to record the first win in the competition.
Blaze FC triumphed over Rebels FC with a 4-2 scoreline in the penultimate match of the day. In the last match, yet another fiercely contested affair, TomTom FC faced Goal Diggers FC. With the match seemingly headed for a stalemate, Eme, Goal Diggers’ striker, managed to find the back of the net in the last minute, sealing the win for his team.
On the last day of the group stage matches, USFC, TomTom FC and Goal Diggers FC had already qualified with 15, 12, and 13 points, respectively. After Vortex FC failed to win any matches so far in the competition, with just one point from their first match against DA-EBS, they are set to face the same opponent again, and should they win, DA-EBS will fail to qualify for the semi-finals. However, Vortex FC didn’t show up; DA-EBS earned three points with a walkover, marking Vortex FC as the worst team in the competition with just one point, zero goals scored, and 11 goals conceded throughout the six matches of the two-legged group stage.
With 7 points, Diggers FC sat at number three in Group A, behind USFC with 15 points and DA-EBS with 8 points, thanks to Vortex FC not showing up. They were set to face USFC in a must-win match. The match ended 3-2 in favour of USFC, making them the only team with a perfect 100% win record and the fewest goals conceded, while TomTom FC were the most dangerous attacking team with 16 goals scored.
Semi-Finals First Leg
On Wednesday, July 15, the first leg of the semi-final between USFC and Goal Diggers got into action. A stunning free-kick goal from USFC put them ahead, but just before the referee signalled the end of the first half, Mubarak, Goal Diggers’ midfield maestro proved decisive, scoring a free-kick of their own to keep the game level. Mid-way through the second half, Richard found the back of the net to put Goal Diggers ahead. But there was still more drama to come, and before the referee could blow the final whistle, USFC pulled one back and the game ended level.
DA-EBS faced TomTom FC in the second match of the semis, and 39 minutes into the first half, TomTom FC were already leading with two goals from Baloo. The first half ended, and 20 minutes into the second half, DA-EBS staged a thrilling comeback. In just five minutes, Dr. Show and Ayanfe put two goals past TomTom’s goalkeeper to bring the game back level. The match ended 2-2 as both teams couldn’t find the back of the net anymore.
Semi-Finals Second Leg
The first match of the semi-final second leg, on July 17, between TomTom FC and DA-EBS FC continued and it seemed they wouldn’t be separated in normal time, as both teams battled with equal chances on the ball. In the last minute, however, with the last touch of the game, Basit of TomTom FC scored the only goal of the match, sending his team to the first final of the UI Unity Cup.
USFC, donned in red, took over the Old Football Pitch in the return leg against Goal Diggers FC. USFC, in their usual winning style, managed to eliminate Goal Diggers from the competition with a 2-1 win, earning their place in the final against TomTom FC.
Final
It was July 20 at the Old Football Pitch, when USFC, with their new light blue shirt and green stripes, while TomTom FC, donning a black shirt, got on the pitch to battle for gold.
USFC got the game underway, and just a few minutes in, TomTom FC won a corner kick after a defensive manoeuvre by USFC. A beautifully taken corner kick met the head of a TomTom FC player for a perfect header, but Tomiwa, USFC goalstopper, made a stunning save.
The match continued in typical fashion with each side tussling for the ball and winning successive fouls to earn free kicks, but none could be converted. The first half ended with the goalkeepers from both sides having their share of goalkicks and saves.
After the half-time talk, the second half resumed and, like the first half, each team, with the boiling passion and competitive spirit to make a name for themselves in the competition, continued with the foul business. Not long after, medical attention was called for Owen, after a collision with Tomiwa, USFC goalkeeper, left him lying flat on the floor.
The tide changed; USFC were now creating more attacking threats, giving TomTom FC defenders more reason to stay behind and stop them. TomTom, as well, continued to create some chances, but couldn’t play their shots on target enough to land them in the net. Regulation ended, and the winner was to be decided on penalties.
USFC took the first kick and scored, while TomTom FC lost the first two. The shootout ended 4-2 when USFC scored their fifth take after losing the second. And so, USFC ran out winners of the first edition of the UI Unity Cup, with an unbeaten record.
In an interview with Mr. Gabriel, USFC head coach, after the match, he described the final as an ‘incredible’ game and the win as a testament to how hard they fought for it and, in fact, deserve it. Talking about beating TomTom FC, the current holder of the Sigma Sports Festival Cup, he said, “TomTom has been very incredible; I love their style of play, I love their passion,” also commenting that the passion and determination of his team have brought them the win.
Zico, the captain of the USFC football team, also has something to say about the motivation of the team. He described their feelings as the firm belief to win the game even though they were played and dominated during the game. Further adding a comment on Ayoola Yusuf (Ozil), the winner of the ‘Most Valuable Player’, as being ‘a very good player’ and perfect in his ability to handle pressure and play in tight spaces.
Mr. Opeyemi, the organiser of the tournament and erstwhile Chairman of UIDLC Class Representatives Forum (CRF), talked about the reason for organising the tournament as a way to create unity and mend the relationship between UIDLC and regular students. “I believe that sport brings people together,” he added. When asked about his comment on the tournament, he talked about how the current edition is just a start and how they are looking forward to expanding the tournament to accommodate more teams next year. “According to our budget, we couldn’t accommodate more teams, and I believe next year, we will be better prepared for that,” he concluded.
Awards
The tournament came to a close with the presentation of medals and certificates, and the celebration by the winning team closed it.
Individual Award Winners:
Best Goalkeeper: Olofintila Oluwatomiwa Ayomide(USFC)
Most Valuable Player (MVP): Ayoola Yusuf Olatunji (USFC)
Highest Goal Scorer: Alawode Micah (TomTom FC)
Best Coach: Odionye Chidiebere Gabriel (USFC)
Omoyemi Adeoye Abdulgafar
Brilliantly executed 💯