By Destiny Temisan Jemiriayegbe
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) football team have emerged champions of the 2026 Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Football Tournament in Abuja.
Customs pummeled the National Institute for Sports (NIS) 3-0 in the final played at the Area 3 football pitch.
The tempo of the game was steady until NCS broke the deadlock through Captain Mikail Abubakar. His fifth goal of the competition and which cemented his place as the highest goal scorer.
Coach Jibril Yussuf led NIS tried to bounce back before the break but the defense line of the border boys were able to soak all the pressure to take the narrow lead into the half time break.
The second half saw the Bashir Adeniyi Adewale-boys take absolute control of the proceedings and Familola Fatai wasted no time to put the ball past NIS goalkeeper Orban Osas to extend Customs lead to two goals. Before Femi Omodara nailed the coffin with the third goal to seal the victory 3-0 for Customs.
In a repeat of last year’s final, 2025 runners up, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) suffered a humiliating 2-0 loss to 2025 champions Nigeria Air Force (NAF).
Despite clinching the golden boot award with 5 goals, Mikail Abubakar of Nigeria Customs Service was also named the most valuable player of the tournament.
His team mate, Charles Ahur emerged best goalkeeper for his outstanding performance.
Before keeping a clean sheet in the final, Ahur saved two penalty kicks in the semi final game against NDLEA.
Team NUJ clinched the fair play award.
Chairman of the organising Committee, Comrade Ndubueze Chidoka appreciated all the teams that participated especially, the Nigerian Television Authority,(NTA) and the National Institute for Sports (NIS) that made their debut in this year’s edition of the championship.
“Customs are truly champions.The border inspector won all the 5 games they played and the standard was very high, considering the fact all the teams that participated played at least 4 games which dubbed the competition as a tournament. To our partners thank you so much”
Chairman of NUJ FCT Council Comrade Grace Ike in a message thanked the teams and guests who turned out in large numbers to be part of the one week event.
The NUJ Council Chairman, who was represented by his Vice, Comrade Yahaya Ndambabo,
commended the spirit of sportsmanship exhibited by all the teams “sports is indeed a unifier. In defeat you still see teams exchanging pleasantries with the winning team. You see officers and corporate bodies exchanging numbers. It’s nice to have fun out of our busy schedule”
Other highlights of the event was the presentation of award to the Controller General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adeniyi Adewale, who was ably represented by the Deputy Controller General, Samuel Onikeku.
The Director General of the National Institute for Sports, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Comrade Phillip Shaibu, represented by the Institute Librarian, Dr. Omoh Asenokhai was also appreciated for his contributions to the nation’s sports development.
Eight teams participated in this year’s edition of the competition.
They include, Nigeria Union of Journalist FCT Council,
Nigeria Customs Service,
Road Safety Corps,
Nigeria Airforce,
NDLEA,
Nigeria Police Force,
Nigeria Television Authority(NTA),
FCT Football Coaches Association.