Crown FC striker Ebenezer Odeyemi delivered a statement performance in the 2025 Gold Cup opener on Wednesday, scoring twice in just 20 minutes to hand his team a 2-0 victory over Seamoriowo FC at the FC Ebedei Stadium.
The former Osun United striker, who recently joined Crown FC, wasted no time making his mark in the tournament. Introduced in the second half with the game still goalless, Odeyemi turned the tide in clinical fashion, netting in the 62nd and 74th minutes to secure all three points for the National League side.
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The brace not only secured victory but also saw Odeyemi shoot to the top of the tournament’s goal-scoring chart after just one matchday.
His first goal came after a swift counterattack, as he calmly slotted the ball past the Seamoriowo FC goalkeeper. Just 12 minutes later, he was on the scoresheet again — this time capitalizing on a defensive lapse to double Crown FC’s lead and end the contest.
“I’m here to make a statement,” Odeyemi said after the match. “It’s a new chapter for me at Crown FC, and I’m hungry to help this team go far in the Gold Cup.”
Crown FC coach praised the striker’s composure and experience. “Odeyemi brings something special — a calmness in front of goal and a sense of timing that’s hard to teach,” he said.
While Seamoriowo FC showed early promise and went toe-to-toe with Crown FC in the first half, they had no answer to Odeyemi’s sharp movement and finishing in the final third once he came on.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Sporting Lagos edged GreenLock FC 1-0 in a tight Group B encounter, thanks to a 69th-minute goal from Lasisi Alabi, who pounced on a costly error from GreenLock goalkeeper Prince Ogo.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will now be on Odeyemi to see if he can maintain his hot form and lead Crown FC’s charge in the group stages.
