On 2nd May 2026, at The Old Football Pitch, SUB, MBBS triumphed over Animal Science by three goals to one to secure passage into the last 16 of the SEALS Cup ’26.
Going into the tie, the stakes could not be any higher, and both teams couldn’t be in more contrasting form, as prior to the game Animal Science were still unbeaten in the tournament, with two wins and a draw guaranteeing their 7 points would see them through well on top of Group G, and promised them a guaranteed fixture against a 3rd-placed team in the round of 32. They might have been forgiven for hoping that such a placing would afford them some respite in terms of the calibre of opponents but with the champions’ title defence going well south with two losses, back-to-back – more than the one they had managed in the past three editions of the SEALS Cup combined – meaning they had to settle for a 3-0 walkover win over EHS, and the best-loser’s berth that came with it.
Regardless of form, in truth nobody could say for sure what to expect especially as it was a knockout fixture in which the stakes were much higher. But at some fifteen minutes past 4PM, all questions would be answered some way or another. The starting lineup remained largely consistent with the previous game against AIS, with Fuhad and Ibrahim the notable changes. It wasn’t the only thing that remained consistent though, as just like the aforementioned game, the opponents, this time in Animal Science would draw first blood very shortly after kick-off, after a free-kick parried by goalkeeper Emerald spilled to their man in the area, who only had the simple task of nodding home.
MBBS, visibly distressed to go behind so early in the game once again, attempted to respond instantly, and almost did so through Habeeb who blazed over after evading his marker. The team upped the tempo, and there were corners aplenty as Animal Science cleared their lines time and time again. A spell of continued pressure ensued and the first crack would be visible for all when Prestige’s corner found Promise in the box for him to head home the all-important equalizer. Prestige was all-action in the first half, and had another corner delivered into the box hit the bar as MBBS kept the pressure up but the Animal Science backline did enough to stifle the countless attacks and preserve the score at 1-1 going into the break.
The onslaught continued in the second half and after MBBS first had a call for handball waved away by the referee, they would finally get a deserved second after an Animal Science player pulled out of his locker a spectacular diving save to deny a near goal, and was richly red-carded for his efforts. Sir Dave took, and converted the ensuing penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way. At two goals to one, and a player down, the game which had mostly been played in the Animal Science half even before their man saw red, now looked well out of their reach and bar an almost howler that had their forwards two on one on goal and Abang scrambling back to clear, it remained largely so. But before the referee’s whistle went for full-time there would be time for one more, as Animal Science who had now resorted to repetitive fouling would be made to pay when Habeeb curled an arching free-kick into the net.
At full-time, it finished 3-1 in favour of Ibadan Medicine and the air at SUB smelled unmistakably of redemption, and with a completely dominant display, the champions advance deservedly to the round of 16, where they await the winner of the tie between Sociology and History, with a potential clash against eternal rivals Political Science in the quarter-finals, once again, on the horizon.
