Fortune FC and Labro Girls clinched the men's and women's titles at the 10th Taiwo Afolabi U-17 Cup, held over the weekend in Lagos. Fortune FC of Oshodi delivered a commanding performance to defeat FC Dynamos of Iwaya 2-0 in the boys' final, while Labro Girls from Ipaja triumphed 5-4 in a penalty shootout against Starlet Girls of Idimu after a goalless draw in regulation time.
Finals Mark 64th Birthday Celebration
The finals were part of activities celebrating Taiwo Afolabi's 64th birthday and took place at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Arena in Onikan, Lagos. Both winning teams received N400,000 cash prizes, while the runners-up in each category took home N300,000.
Third-Place Matches
Earlier, the third-place matches saw Infinity FC defeat Apex FC 3-2 in the boys' category, while Fela Queen edged Puma Queen 1-0 in the girls' bronze match.
Tournament Overview
Sponsored by SIFAX Group, the tournament featured 56 clubs—32 men's and 24 women's teams—from across Lagos State. Preliminary matches were held at the Ojo Oniyun Sports Centre in Ebute Metta and the Anthony Mini Stadium in Gbagada.
Chairman's Remarks
Speaking at the final, Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, emphasized the decade-long investment in youth football, stating it stems from a genuine belief in the transformative power of the sport. "I decided to sponsor this tournament for the past 10 years because we use it to celebrate my birthday every year, but more importantly, we need to motivate and encourage these players because they are our future," he said.
He added, "What unites the world is football. There is no doubt about that. People like legends Daniel Amokachi, Austin Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, and Waidi Akanni traveled out of this country and made us proud. I am doing this to support and complement what the federal government is doing."
