Temiloluwa Erinle
(Fans of UNILAG Marines. Image Credit: University of Lagos Communications Unit)
After coming second in Group B, UNILAG male football team qualified into the semi-finals of the football tournament of the 11th FASU Games. Today, at 4 pm, the Marine will take their conquest to the Lagos State University (LASU), where they will face the co-host.
Despite a poor start to the tournament, with a loss, a closely fought 2-1 victory against Nkumba University (Uganda), a dominating 2-0 victory against University of Jos (UNIJOS) and a 1-1 stalemate with Julius Nyerere University of Kankan (UJNK, Guinea) have propelled them closer to glory.
The game against UNIJOS saw a penalty converted into an early lead in the first half, by Doyin Omotosho, the lead attacker. In the second half, a very possessive UNILAG team soon sealed their victory with a counter finished by the Number 1 player.
However, this building wave would crash weakly on UJNK who similarly needed a win to reach the semis, both teams stuck. The Marines would finish just behind University for Development Studies (UDS, Ghana), the undefeated team of the group and the defeater of the Marines in their first game.
(Final result of the first semi-final match. Image Credit: FASU)
A crucial win against LASU means gold or silver for the Marines. A loss means bronze or dust. UDS won against FUOYE today in penalty shootout, advancing to the final.