Etinan Institute and Community Secondary School, Aka Offot, emerged champions of the boys’ and girls’ categories respectively at the Troost-Ekong Foundation Secondary Schools Football Tournament, following an exciting grand finale in Uyo on Tuesday.
Sports247 reports that the colorful closing ceremony brought together school teams, football administrators, government representatives, parents, supporters and other stakeholders to celebrate another successful edition of the grassroots competition.
The occasion also coincided with the 33rd birthday of former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong, adding an extra dimension to the celebrations.
In the girls’ final, Community Secondary School, Aka Offot, produced a dominant display to defeat Methodist Secondary School, Ibiaku Ishiet, 5-0 and successfully retain the title they won in 2025.
The victory secured back-to-back championships for Aka Offot and underlined their dominance in the girls’ competition.
In the boys’ final, Etinan Institute claimed the trophy after edging St Brian Model College 1-0 in a closely contested encounter.
Both champions were rewarded with trophies, medals and cash prizes, while the runners-up also received medals and cash prizes in recognition of their impressive campaigns.
Individual excellence was equally recognized, with awards presented to outstanding players in categories including Best Player, Best Goalkeeper and Highest Goal Scorer in both the boys’ and girls’ competitions.
The Troost-Ekong Foundation further reinforced its commitment to grassroots football development by providing sports equipment to all four finalists.
The Foundation extended the equipment support to all participating schools, giving young footballers additional resources to continue developing their skills beyond the tournament.
The initiative, organized by the Akwa Ibom State Football Association in partnership with the Troost-Ekong Foundation, continues to provide a platform for young talents to showcase their abilities while promoting school football in the state.
The grand finale was attended by several dignitaries, including the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, who served as Special Guest of Honour.
With competitive football, individual recognition and equipment support forming part of the programmed, the tournament once again highlighted the importance of investing in young players and strengthening the grassroots foundation of Nigerian football.
