Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan (3SC) have emerged champions of the 2022 NPFL/Dozy Mmobuosi Super four tournament. The Oluyole Warriors came from a goal down to beat Enyimba 3-2 in the entertaining final, played at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos on Friday evening.
During the round robin played earlier, Enyimba topped the group with seven points, while Shooting Stars came second with five points. In the pair’s first meeting just 24 hours earlier, ended goalless, as both sides prepared for the money-spinning final on Friday.
Enyimba started the final on the front foot and deservedly went in front via Fatai Abdullahi’s deflected free-kick in the sixth minute. However, that lead only lasted seven minutes, as 3SC equalized through Taofeek Malomo.
From that moment on, it was a ding-dong affair between the two sides and a huge difference from the approach seen in the first installment.
At the half-hour mark, Finidi George’s men went back in front through Eze Ekwutoziam’s strike after Shooting Stars failed to clear their lines in the area. Enyimba went into the break in front and just 45 minutes away from winning the mega prize.
However, Gbenga Ogunbote’s Shooting had other plans and fought really hard in the second half. Former Enyimba midfielder Kelly Kester drove through the Enyimba midfield before curling a wonderful effort past John Noble to restore parity once again in the 60th minute.
Shocked by the goal, the Aba Elephants sort a way back into the game but the Ibadan side stood strong to repel their attacks.
With just three minutes left on the clock, Anthony Okachi headed home a fantastic cross by Bala Ankintunde to put Shooting Stars in front for the first time in the final. In the end, 3SC held on for the win to claim the first ever NPFL/Dozy Mmobuosi Super four tournament.
Meanwhile, Enyimba’s Chijioke Mbaoma emerged as the golden boot winner, while Anthony Okachi was named the player of the tournament. Both players also got N1million naira each.
Apart from the trophy, Shooting Stars were given 50 million naira, Enyimba got 30 million naira while Bendel Insurance and Enugu Rangers got 10million naira each.
