The AWO CUP 2025 Finals delivered a gripping double bill in Ogijo, matching youthful zeal with tactical maturity and a flair for the dramatic. Golden Dollar rose from early setbacks to lift the U17 crown after a 1 to 1 draw and a 5 to 4 shootout against Might Blaster, while Buqueson FA held their nerve to edge Sunshine FA in the U13 showpiece with a 1 to 1 draw followed by a 4 to 1 shootout. Both matches showcased the heartbeat of grassroots football, a blend of hope, learning, and breakthrough moments that linger long after the final whistle.
U17 final delivers a comeback tale for the ages
From the opening whistle, the U17 final pulsed with intensity as Golden Dollar struck first through Iwunze Anthony in the third minute. That early surge set the rhythm, with the team leaning on compact organization and timely pressing to keep Might Blaster at bay, a reminder that big moments often favor the bold who seize initiative. The atmosphere was electric, the margins razor thin, and every tackle felt like a statement on the day.
Might Blaster answered with calm in the second half, and parity arrived in the 51st minute when Kayode Ifemose converted from the penalty spot. The equaliser added new layers to the contest, momentum tilted, and the pressure tests began to mount for both sides. Each team probed for a late winner, yet disciplined defending and firm goalkeeping kept the score locked at 1 to 1 at full time, a stalemate that felt more like a spring wound tight.
The shootout demanded nerve and precision, and it delivered both. Kick after kick found the net until the decisive moment, when Iwunze Anthony stepped up and converted the final penalty for a 5 to 4 win. That strike sealed the U17 title for Golden Dollar, and it tied a bow on a performance built on belief, a quality that separates challengers from champions when pressure compresses time and space.
Golden Dollar’s triumph carried deeper resonance because of the path they had to walk to get there. Early defeats to Young Star by 0 to 1 and Awoniyi by 0 to 2 raised questions, yet the side regrouped with admirable clarity, smashing Rehoboth 3 to 0 in the quarterfinal and edging Golden Jubilee 1 to 0 in a tense semifinal. From being tagged as second best losers to standing tallest at the end, theirs was the tournament’s defining arc, a journey that turned setbacks into stepping stones for a title run fueled by resolve.
Individual excellence shone through the U17 field. Sulaimon Fawas of Golden Dollar was named Best Goalkeeper, a fitting nod to the focus and shot stopping that steadied the champions when it mattered most. Golden Jubilee’s Ogunnaike Olamide took Highest Goal Scorer, while Olawale Success, also of Golden Jubilee, earned Most Valuable Player, a pair of awards that underlined how competitive the bracket was even beyond the final.
The final was also a community moment. It drew the Chairman of the Ogijo Football Coaches Association, Pep Kotun, representatives of the Ogijo Football Association, and the Principal of Ogijo Community School Junior, alongside a host of football lovers. Their presence reinforced the competition’s growing significance as a grassroots platform, a place where talent meets opportunity and where shared investment can shape the trajectory of young players with big dreams.
U13 final puts composure in the spotlight
On the U13 stage, Buqueson FA and Sunshine FA served an engrossing contest at the Ogijo Community School playing ground. Sunshine FA landed the first blow from a well worked free kick, a reminder that set pieces are decisive tools in youth football, where structure and repetition can produce clarity amid chaos. The goal put Buqueson on the back foot, and the tension in the stands was palpable as the minutes ticked by.
Composure proved to be Buqueson’s ally. Malik Babatunde delivered the equaliser that reset the tie, and it felt like a turning point, not just in scoreline but in belief. From there, both sides guarded their penalty areas with conviction, and when regulation ended at 1 to 1, the match was primed for a verdict from twelve yards, a theatre where character is measured with every step to the spot.
Buqueson FA were flawless in the shootout, a sequence finished with authority by Malik Babatunde who took the decisive final penalty for a 4 to 1 victory. The clarity of their execution under pressure suggested solid preparation and cool heads, qualities that often separate winning and losing on cup final days. For Sunshine FA, there was pride in the performance and the early lead, and for Buqueson, the medal shone brighter because it had to be earned the hard way.
Recognition followed the action. Sunshine FA’s Samuel Apochi was named Best Goalkeeper, and Better Tomorrow FA Betisa celebrated Folorunsho Testimony for a pair of standout honours, Highest Goal Scorer and Most Valuable Player. Placement matches added a competitive edge to the closing tableau, with Better Tomorrow FA Betisa taking third place and a prize of ₦70,000, Buqueson FA lifting the trophy and ₦120,000, and runner up Sunshine FA rewarded with ₦100,000 and the silver medal.
What the finals tell us about development in Ogijo
Both finals reflected a culture where youth football is taken seriously, from coaching detail to player temperament. The presence of key stakeholders around the U17 final validated that sense of purpose, and the U13 showpiece at the Ogijo Community School playing ground offered a vivid classroom for learning under pressure. The message was clear, growth does not happen by chance, it is built through structures, mentors, and competitions that reward consistency.
Three themes defined the day, resilience, clinical goalkeeping, composed finishing. Each theme had a face, whether it was a goalkeeper standing tall in the final minutes, a forward burying a high leverage kick, or a midfielder tracking back to break a counter. When young players experience such moments, they store the lessons and return wiser, stronger, and more prepared for the next hurdle.
The U17 storyline of Golden Dollar underscored the value of response after defeat. Early losses could have derailed their campaign, yet they found a way to reset and improve, a blueprint that coaches often preach but players must live to truly understand. The quarterfinal and semifinal became stepping stones, and by the time the final went to penalties, the group had formed a habit of winning tight games that translates into belief at the decisive moments.
In the U13 bracket, Buqueson FA showed how composure under stress can be trained and then trusted on the day. The equaliser from Malik Babatunde was the pivot, and the subsequent shootout execution turned a balanced match into a clear outcome. Sunshine FA’s early free kick goal emphasized the importance of set piece craft at youth level, where technical repetition and delivery accuracy can create immediate dividends.
Key moments that swung the two finals
Early strikes in both finals set the tone, first with Iwunze Anthony’s third minute finish for Golden Dollar, then with Sunshine FA’s free kick in the U13 match. Equalisers kept the contests honest, Kayode Ifemose from the spot for Might Blaster and Malik Babatunde from open play for Buqueson FA. The penalty shootouts became the crucible, and both champions delivered precisely when calm was most needed.
Goalkeeping stood out across the day. The U17 match featured firm hands and smart positioning that guarded the draw to the shootout, a platform that complemented Sulaimon Fawas being named Best Goalkeeper of the tournament. In U13, the recognition of Samuel Apochi reflected a similar pattern, a defender of the line who provided assurance and a base from which teammates could push forward with confidence.
Honours, prizes and the wider impact
The tournament accolades painted a generous picture of shared excellence. In the U17 category, Golden Jubilee’s Ogunnaike Olamide took Highest Goal Scorer and Olawale Success claimed Most Valuable Player, confirmations of impact that resonated even without the trophy. For the champions, Golden Dollar’s own recognition for Best Goalkeeper underlined a spine that held firm under the highest stress.
The U13 awards continued that theme of distributed brilliance. Folorunsho Testimony of Better Tomorrow FA Betisa finished with Highest Goal Scorer and Most Valuable Player, a dual achievement that signals both consistency and influence. Prize distributions added tangible reward to the intangible gains of competition, with Buqueson FA taking ₦120,000 as champions, Sunshine FA earning ₦100,000 as runners up, and Better Tomorrow FA Betisa collecting ₦70,000 for third place.
Why these finals will be remembered
Golden Dollar’s journey from early defeats to ultimate victory will travel as a story coaches tell in training grounds for months to come. It is a case study in resilience, a reminder that teams can bend without breaking, and that tournaments favor sides that learn quickly and adapt to the demands of knockout football. The decisive penalty by Iwunze Anthony will sit at the center of that narrative, the moment when belief turned into silverware.
For Buqueson FA, the memory will be one of calm execution under pressure. The equaliser from Malik Babatunde restored balance, then the assured strike in the shootout turned composure into a title. Sunshine FA’s free kick and the broader quality of the final confirmed that the U13 field is brimming with talent and tactical awareness, signs that bode well for the next steps of these young footballers.
Final word on a vibrant grassroots showcase
The two finals in Ogijo captured everything that makes youth tournaments magnetic, the discovery of new names, the collective will of teams, and the shared joy of a community that understands the role football plays in shaping character. Golden Dollar’s U17 crown and Buqueson FA’s U13 triumph were earned on the margins, in moments where concentration and courage meet. The event showed that when opportunity and preparation align, young athletes can write stories that inspire, teach, and endure.
As the lights dim on this edition, the legacy feels clear. The AWO CUP continues to be a stage where potential becomes performance, and where the next generation learns to navigate pressure with poise. Ogijo’s embrace of the competition, supported by coaches, school leadership, and local football bodies, ensures that the lessons from these finals echo into the training sessions and schoolyards where the future is already in motion.
