Ward 9 delivered an emphatic performance on Monday, November 9, defeating Ward 8 by four goals to nil in the ongoing Hon. Andrew Ijegbai Football Championship (AIFC) 2026 in Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The encounter produced an impressive individual performance from Samuel John, who scored a hat-trick to lead Ward 9 to victory. Agbebaku Miracle completed the scoring with the fourth goal, sealing a convincing win for his side.
Although Ward 8 struggled to contain their opponents, goalkeeper Samuel Ogbewee distinguished himself with a series of important saves that prevented the scoreline from becoming even more embarrassing.
His performance earned him recognition from the championship sponsor, Hon. Andrew Ijegbai, who rewarded him with ₦50,000 as one of the outstanding players of the encounter.
Ward 9’s Felix Johnson also received ₦50,000 in recognition of his performance, while both Ward 9 and Ward 8 were presented with ₦100,000 each.
Commending the players, Ijegbai particularly praised Ogbewee for his goalkeeping display, joking that without his interventions, Ward 8 could have conceded as many as 10 goals.
The sponsor also promised that both teams would be among the first beneficiaries of his proposed sports development initiative when he gets to Abuja, raising expectations of further support for grassroots football and young sporting talents.
The match was witnessed by the Secretary to the Local Government, Alabama Imoye; the Leader of the Legislative Arm, Hon. James Imaku; and councillors representing Wards 8 and 9.
The AIFC 2026 is part of a wider grassroots football initiative bringing communities across Owan East and Owan West together through competitive football.
The championship was officially unveiled at Evbiamen-Emai, Owan East, with 22 teams drawn from the two local government areas expected to participate.
At the unveiling, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo’s Special Adviser on Grassroots Sports Mobilisation, Hon. Frank Ilaboya, commended Ijegbai for investing in grassroots football. He described the initiative as a practical contribution to youth engagement, talent discovery and the development of future football stars.
Ilaboya encouraged participating players to use the competition to showcase their abilities, noting that grassroots tournaments could provide opportunities for talented young footballers to progress towards professional careers. He also promised to brief the governor on the initiative.
The unveiling attracted the Chairman of Owan East Local Government Council, Hon. Ernest Oyaole Aitalegbe; Edo State Football Association Vice Chairman, Mr Paul Ojeisekhoba; the championship’s Local Organising Committee Chairman, Mr Johnbull Ogedengbe; football administrators, coaches and team captains.
With cash rewards for outstanding performances and financial support to participating teams, the championship is seeking to make grassroots football more competitive while encouraging young people to develop their sporting abilities.
The latest result further underlines Ward 9’s attacking strength, while Ogbewee’s performance demonstrates that individual excellence can still earn recognition even when a team suffers defeat.
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