By Destiny Temisan Jemiriayegbe
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dr. Bashir Adeniyi Adewale and the Director General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu to clash at the final of the 2026 NUJ Football Tournament between NCS and NIS.
Both heads spurred their teams to victory in their semifinal games played on Friday at the Old Parade Ground, Area 10, Garki Abuja and will lead their agency in the final.
In friday’s game which kept fans on the edge of their seat saw NCS edged NDLEA 3-2 on penalties after regulation time ended in a 2-2 draw.
NDLEA’s Abbas Yusuf broke the deadlock in the first half to put the anti-drugs officers in front but Customs’ Mikail Abubakar drew level just before the break to leave the score 1-1 at half time.
The second half resumed with pressure mounting from Customs who won a penalty for a foul and Abubakar rose up to the occasion to score his second of the day and fourth goal of the competition.
Just as the CG Bashir Adewale-boys are celebrating their 2-1 lead, Customs goalkeeper, Charles M. Ahur scored an own goal following a long range shot in stoppage time to end the encounter 2-2 at full time.
However, goalkeeper Ahur won the penalty shootout for customs, saving two kicks as NCS went on to win 3-2.
Earlier, debutants NIS stunned NAF with a narrow 1-0 victory in another tension soaked match.
After a barren first half, Stephen Raymond converted a penalty in the second half that proved decisive.
NIS will face NCS in Saturday’s final at the Area 3 football pitch by 2pm.
To precede the final, NAF will battle NDLEA for bronze by 11am while NAWOJ square up against Women Football All Stars Association (WFASA) in the women’s final at 12:30pm.
