In a thrilling friendly encounter at the University of Ibadan on 30 June 2024, Soccer For All (SFA) emerged victorious against Eagle Eye FC with a scoreline of 5-3. The match, which kicked off at 4:00pm, showcased a flurry of goals and dramatic moments, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats throughout.
SFA adopted a 4-1-2-3 formation, designed to balance defensive solidity with attacking flair. Gbolahan Ajiboye stood as the goalkeeper, shielded by a back four comprising Adeyemi Akinpelu on the right, JJ David Nwosu and Kareem Jamiu in the central defence, and Siyanbade Adedamola on the left. Emma played a pivotal role as the central midfielder, tasked with linking defence and attack. Flanking him were Jimoh Ibrahim on the right and Korede Abdul Samad on the left, both expected to push forward and support the attack. Up front, Akintomide Akinbola operated on the right, with Akorede Obatuyi as the central striker, and Mbappe Okedigba on the left, creating a dynamic front line.
The substitutes for SFA included Hessy, who would later have an impact on the match.
The game started with a shaky beginning for SFA, as Eagle Eye FC capitalised on a defensive mistake in the 11th minute, taking an early lead. Just four minutes later, Eagle Eye FC struck again, doubling their advantage to 2-0 and putting SFA on the back foot.
However, SFA responded with resilience. In the 30th minute, Emma unleashed a stunning effort from outside the box, a goal that ignited hope and brought the score to 2-1. Just three minutes later, Gbolahan Ajiboye showcased his goalkeeping prowess with a remarkable point-blank reaction save, preventing Eagle Eye from extending their lead.
In the 35th minute, Korede Abdul Samad came agonisingly close to equalising, hitting the post with a well-placed shot. SFA's persistence finally paid off in the 41st minute when Akorede Obatuyi tapped in a well-placed cross from Akintomide Akinbola, bringing the score to 2-2.
As the first half drew to a close, Jimoh Ibrahim made a crucial slide rule pass that created another opportunity, before Mbappe Okedigba assisted Obatuyi for a second tap-in just before the half-time whistle, sending SFA into the break with a 3-2 lead.
The second half began with SFA looking to extend their advantage. In the 60th minute, Obatuyi scored again, tapping in another close-range effort, making it 4-2. Gbolahan Ajiboye continued to impress, diving at the feet of an Eagle Eye attacker in the 64th minute to maintain the two-goal cushion.
A substitution occurred in the 69th minute, as Hessy replaced the influential Obatuyi. Just two minutes later, Eagle Eye FC struck back, scoring to narrow the gap to 4-3, setting up a tense finish.
In the 85th minute, Hessy made his presence felt immediately after coming on, scoring from inside the box to restore SFA's two-goal lead at 5-3. The match concluded with SFA holding on to their advantage, showcasing not only their attacking prowess but also their resilience in overcoming early setbacks.
