Ere Na Biringwe (Owerri West), Obizi Community (Ezinihitte Mbaise), Irette Ward 10 (Owerri West), Emii Community (Owerri North), Ihitte Ward (Ezinihitte Mbaise), Ogwa Community (Mbaitoli), Aguneze (Ahiazu Mbaise), Nnarambia (Ahiazu Mbaise) and Eziudo Ward (Ezinihitte Mbaise) have all qualified for the Round of 16 of the ongoing Ikukuoma Mbaise Owerri Zone U-20 Football Tournament powered by the President, Ikukuoma Sports Development Foundation, High Chief Summers Nwokie.
On Thursday February 8th, Irette (Owerri West pipped Emii (Owerri North) 1-0 to record their second win in the tournament and sailed through to the Round of 16. Mmesoma Nnorom’s 84th minute goal handed Irette the previous points and they topped Group B with six points.
Despite being on the losing side, Emii as well limped to the Round of 16 having walked over Mbieri Community (Mbaitoli) in their first game.
In Group C, Ogwa Community (Mbaitoli) also booked their place in the Round of 16 with two points following their goalless draw against Mpam Ekwereazu (Ahiazu Mbaise) in a game Mpam would have qualified had they won. Ogwa finished second behind Ihitte Ward (Ezinihitte Mbaise). Ihitte got four points from two games.
On Wednesday, Obizi Community (Ezinihitte Mbaise) cruised to the Round of 16 after they walked over Ogbe Community (Ahiazu Mbaise). The organisers disqualified Ogbe for fielding ineligible players and it gave Obizi the greenlight to qualify as second in Group A behind Ere Na Biringwe (Owerri West). Ere Na Biringwe topped the group on head to head having beaten Obizi 1-0 in one of the shocking results of the tournament.
Also in another game played on Wednesday, Eziudo (Ezinihitte Mbaise) ended the campaign of Nguru Nweke (Aboh Mbaise) in the tournament. Eziudo won the game 2-0 through Chigozie Onuoha and Chijioke Obodo’s second half goals to qualify from Group H with a game to spare. Nnarambia (Ahiazu Mbaise) have also pulled through having beaten Nguru Nweke as well last week. But Eziudo and Nnarambia will slug it out on Sunday February 11th to determine who tops Group H.
On Tuesday, Obokwu Community (Ezinihitte Mbaise) played an entertaining 1-1 draw against Uvuru (Aboh Mbaise) for the former’s second point in the tourney in Group G. Samuel Owiriwa put Uvuru ahead in the seventh minute but Ifeanyi Emenogu got the equaliser for Obokwu three minutes later. Obokwu will await the result of Oru Community (Ahiazu Mbaise) and Uvuru slated for Saturday, February 10th before knowing their fate.
Meanwhile, Aguneze (Ahiazu Mbaise) galloped to the Round of 16 with four points from Group F after a goalless draw against Umuhu Okwuato (Aboh Mbaise) on Tuesday. Aguneze had earlier beaten Onicha Nwankwo (Ezinihitte Mbaise) 2-0.
The second ticket in Group F will be decided between Onicha Nwankwo and Umuhu when both teams face each other on Saturday, February 10th. Umuhu with a point will qualify with another draw but Onicha Nwankwo needs a win to qualify.
On Friday, February 9th, Umuoree Eziudo (Ezinihitte Mbaise) will face Amumara Community (Ezinihitte Mbaise) by 2pm in a Group D tie . Amumara with three points from their 1-0 win over Okpofe/Ezeagbogu (Ezinihitte Mbaise) will qualify with a draw but Umuoree needs a win to ease off their second game tie with Okpofe/Ezeagbogu on Sunday, February 11th.
In the second fixture on Friday, Ibeku Okwuato (Aboh Mbaise) have a tie with Lude Community (Ahiazu Mbaise) in Group E. It is still very dicey and until the end of today’s fixture, it will be difficult to determine the two teams that will make it out of the group. Currently, Ihiagwa Ward lead with two points while Lude are second with a point and based on better goals scored while Ibeku are third with a point, too. A high scoring draw between the two teams could see Ihiagwa edged out on goals scored.
The Ikukuoma Mbaise Owerri Zone U-20 Football Tournament is packaged and sponsored by High Chief Summers Nwokie whose love for football is second to none. He has sponsored it to ensure that Owerri youths channel their energies towards something positive and see if they can make a career out of football.
Ikukuoma Mbaise Owerri Zone U-20 Football Tournament Results and Fixtures
28-1-2024 Ere Na Ebirigwe (Owerri West) 0-1 Ogbe Community (Ahiazu Mbaise)
30-1-2024 Mbieri (Mbaitoli) 0-1 Irette Ward 6 ( Owerri West)
Ihitte Ward (Ezinihitte Mbaise) 1-1 Ogwa Community (Mbaitoli)
31-1-2024 Okpofe/ Ezeagbogu (Ezinihitte Mbaise) 1-0 Umuoree Eziudo (Ezinihitte Mbaise)
Ihiagwa Ward 10 (Owerri West) 1-1 Ibeku Ward (Ezinihitte Mbaise)
01-02-2024 Aguneze Community (Ahiazu Mbaise) 2-0 Onicha Nwankwo (Ezinihitte Mbaise)
Obokwu Community (Ezinihitte Mbaise) 2-2 Oru Community (Ahiazu Mbaise)
02-02-2024 Nguru Nweke (Ahiazu Mbaise) 0-1 Nnarambia Ward (Ahiazu Mbaise)
Ere Na Ebirigwe ( Owerri West) 1-0 Obizi Community (Ezinihitte Mbaise)
03-02-2024 Ihitte Ward (Ezinihitte Mbaise) 1-0 Mpam Ekwereazu (Ahiazu Mbaise).
Mbieri (Mbaitoli) 0-3 Emii (Owerri North) Walkover
04-02-2024 Ihiagwa (Owerri West) 2-2 Lude Community (Ahiazu Mbaise)
Okpofe Ezeagbogu (Ezinihitte Mbaise) 0-1 Amumara Community (Ezinihitte Mbaise)
06-02-2024 Obokwu Community (Ezinihitte Mbaise) 1-1 Uvuru (Aboh Mbaise)
Aguneze Community (Ahiazu Mbaise) 0-0 Umuhu Okwuato (Aboh Mbaise)
07-02-2024 Ogbe (Ahiazu Mbaise) 0-3 Obizi Community (Ezinihitte Mbaise)
Nguru Nweke (Aboh Mbaise) 0-2 Eziudo (Ezinihitte Mbaise)
08-02-2024 Irette (Owerri West) 1-0 Emii (Owerri North)
Ogwa (Mbaitoli) 0-0 Mpam Ekwereazu (Ahiazu Mbaise)
09-02-2024 Umuoree Eziudo (Ezinihitte Mbaise) vs Amumara Community (Ezinihitte Mbaise)
Ibeku Okwuato (Aboh Mbaise) vs Lude Community ( Ahiazu Mbaise)
10-02-2024 Onicha Nwankwo (Ezinihitte Mbaise) vs Umuhu Okwuato (Aboh Mbaise
Oru Community (Ahiazu Mbaise) vs Uvuru (Aboh Mbaise)
11-02-2024 Nnarambia Ward (Ahiazu) vs Eziudo
Okpofe/Ezeagbogu Ward (Ezinihitte Mbaise) vs Umuoree Eziudo (Ezinihitte Mbaise)
