Benin Unity Cup: Egor, Ovia North East to Clash in final
Ovia North East team vs Oredo 1 trade tackle at Benin Unity Cup
By Moshood Karim
Egor Local Government and Ovia North East will lock horns in the final of the maiden Benin Unity Cup football tournament after impressive semi-final performances in Benin City, setting up a compelling title clash scheduled for Sunday, 21, 2025 at the Samuel Ogebemudia stadium.
Egor booked their place in the decider with a confident 2–0 victory over Oredo 1 in the opening semi-final played on Saturday at the Crescent Football Club field, Irhirhi. The tone was set early when Towo Eventus delivered a moment of quality in the ninth minute, curling a spectacular corner kick straight into the net to hand Egor the advantage.
Oredo 1 pushed for an equaliser after the break, but Egor remained composed and disciplined at the back. Their superiority was eventually rewarded late in the game when Ernest Ojelumat doubled the lead in the 86th minute, showing sharp anticipation to beat the goalkeeper to the ball and calmly finish off a swift attacking move.
The second semi-final proved a closely fought affair, with Ovia North East edging past Oredo 2 to secure the other final berth. Otasowie Ugiagbe struck the decisive blow in the 44th minute, producing a fine finish that lifted the crowd and proved enough to settle the contest.
Attention will also turn to the third-place play-off at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, where Oredo 1 and Oredo 2 will face each other in a battle for pride and podium placement.
The champion of the Benin Unity Cup will receive ₦1 million, the runner-up ₦700,000, the third-placed team ₦500,000, and the fourth-placed team ₦300,000.
Sponsored by Senator Neda Imasuen, the Benin Unity Cup has been hailed as a significant grassroots initiative aimed at youth empowerment and talent discovery, providing young footballers with a platform to showcase their abilities and attract opportunities beyond the local scene.
