Ipole City FC have been crowned champions of the 2026 Hon. Johnson Ogunbolude Unity Cup following a thrilling grand finale at the St. Francis Primary School Playing Ground in Igoba, Akure North. Powered by the Akure North Football Council, the grassroots tournament brought together 16 competitive teams across the local government area, culminating in an action-packed final day of football on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
The championship match saw Ipole City FC edge past Eleven Wise FC in a 1-0 contest that kept spectators on the edge of their seats. The decisive goal came in the first half when Ipole City FC capitalized on a well-worked opportunity, maintaining their slender lead through the final whistle to claim the coveted trophy in an entertaining and classic display of local talent. Earlier in the afternoon, Emergency FC secured a third-place finish after defeating Dynamo FC 1-0 in another tightly contested encounter.
Ipole City FC swept the individual tournament honors, with their star playmaker David (No. 10) earning the Best Player award, alongside accolades for the team’s top goalkeeper and head coach. Emergency FC’s Sunday Adekunle finished as the tournament’s Highest Goal Scorer with 4 goals, while Brave Eagles Academy was recognized with the Fair Play award as the Best Behaved Team.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony, the Executive Chairman of Akure North Local Government, Hon. Johnson Ogunbolude, commended the organizers for delivering a successful tournament.
He emphasized that discovering and promoting talent from the grassroots remains a vital part of his administration’s developmental agenda, pledging to sustain the Unity Cup as an annual program aimed at empowering local youths and keeping them away from social vices.
