Mrs. Bola Olugboyegun, wife of the Chairman of JOF Nigeria Limited, Dr. Bola Olugboyegun, has praised the impact of the U-13 JOF Cup Football Tournament, describing the competition as a successful initiative that has continued to meet the expectations of both the sponsor and organisers over the past seven years.

The grand finale of the seventh edition was held on Sunday at the University of Lagos Sports Centre, where Fortune Football Academy of Oshodi emerged champions after defeating FC VI-Foot Football Academy of Ijora 3-1 in a penalty shootout following a goalless draw in regulation time.

The annual grassroots football tournament is sponsored by JOF Nigeria Limited, a leading manufacturing and logistics company headquartered in Oregun, Lagos, as part of its commitment to youth development and sports promotion.

Speaking after the final, Mrs. Olugboyegun, who watched the match alongside her husband, commended the remarkable display of skill, determination and resilience by the young footballers despite playing on a pitch made difficult by heavy rainfall.

“I strongly believe that exposing these young boys early to a talent discovery platform like the JOF Cup provides them with a great opportunity to build a successful future,” she said.

“I was particularly impressed by the passion and determination they displayed as they competed to outdo one another. Their commitment deserves commendation.

“This is the essence of the competition—to encourage these young lads to believe in themselves, recognise the talents God has given them, and remain focused on developing those gifts for the benefit of themselves, their families and the nation.”

Also speaking, former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), lauded JOF Nigeria Limited for sustaining the tournament over the last seven years, saying the initiative has become a valuable platform for discovering and nurturing future football stars.

“This is the kind of initiative I would like every corporate organisation in Nigeria to emulate,” Onigbanjo said.

“There are countless talented young footballers across the length and breadth of Nigeria. By discovering and nurturing them early, we will not only transform their lives but also make a significant contribution to the development of sports in our country.”

The competition rewarded excellence with attractive cash prizes. Champions Fortune Football Academy received ₦750,000, while runners-up FC VI-Foot Football Academy earned ₦500,000. Third-placed Soccer City Football Academy of Iwaya claimed ₦350,000 after defeating Ultimate Football Academy 1-0 in the third-place match, while Ultimate FA received ₦250,000.

Individual honours were also presented to outstanding performers. Okoroma Destiny of FC VI-Foot Football Academy finished as the tournament’s highest goal scorer. Odesola Odunayo of Fortune Football Academy was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP), while his teammate, Alabi Faruk, won the Best Goalkeeper Award.