By Daily Sports on December 20, 2018
Ine Stars have won the IB Champions Cup competition for top grassroots football clubs.
In a pulsating final match played at the Crescent Sports Complex in Benin City, Edo State, on Wednesday morning (December19, 2018) Ine Stars held their nerves to triumph over Eagles Wings FC on penalties after regulation time ended one goal apiece.
For Ine Stars, winning the tournament is a solid psychological boost as it gives the club bragging rights in the grassroots football environment.
The match featured the best of grassroots football and mirrored the quality of football witnessed at the tournament as a whole.
The two finalists played high tempo football, with technically very gifted players on parade.
It was a final that lived up to its billing, with the tension spreading from the players in the pitch onto the coaches, reserve players and fans of both clubs who both have the Crescent Sports Complex as their training ground.
Both sides had met earlier in the group stage of the competition and played out a scoreless draw.
Fighting to a stalemate in regulation time again in the final showed that there's really not much difference in the quality of both clubs.
Ine Stars is a club with a solid history of winning trophies in the Edo state football landscape. The club has won a number of Edo State League titles (a competition for amateur clubs) and in 2016 they stunned Nigerian football followers by winning the Edo State FA Cup, defeating Nigerian Professional Division One side Dynamite Force 3-0 in the final match played at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
The Ine vs Eagles Wings final was watched by thousands and some top football personalities, including the Technical Adviser of pro 1 side Bendel Insurance of Benin, Monday Origin, Ricky Aburime and top football intermediary Darlington Ogbeifun.
Ine Stars went home with the N150,000 prize money for winners while Eagles Wings got N75,000 for placing second.
The tournament was sponsored by sports philanthropist Idahosa Benjamin to spice up the festive period in Benin City and provide entertainment as well as opportunities for players to strut their stuff in the eyes of players’ managers.

•Photo shows Ine Stars Captain Sunday Anyanwu receiving the IB Champions trophy from tournament sponsor Idahosa Benjamin at the Crescent Sports Complex in Benin City.
Source Daily Sports
Posted December 20, 2018
You may also like...
Ahmed Musa to play Vardy role for Leicester?...
Wenger praises Aubameyang’s generosity
CAF Player of the Year: Enyeama, Ahmed Musa...
Ahmed Musa ‘Talking With Some Clubs In Europe”...
Van Gaal keeps job as Man.Utd., Chelsea battle...
Golden Eaglets Land In Brazil For FIFA U-17...

Super Falcons miss first Women’s World Cup after 2-1 S’Africa loss
Joshua, Fury fight hits stumbling block
Coach apologises to Nigerians over Falcons World Cup miss
Katsina United clarifies Ozor’s death report
SWAN Congratulates New Anambra CP Ama On Assumption Of Duty
SWAN congratulates New Anambra CP Ama on assumption of duty
Katsina United reject claims that dead player regained consciousness at mortuary
C’wealth Games gold medallist returns to McDonald’s job
National U-15 t’tennis tournament begins
Oshoala rallies fans ahead crunch South Africa clash
Why Gusau And The Present NFF Board Must Go! (PART 2)
Madugu hints at rotation after Nnadozie errors
Rangers International going, going . . . (64,023 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,375 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,272 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,872 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,752 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,629 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,521 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (52,030 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,241 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,710 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,199 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,580 views)