Fortune Fc, Labro Girls Win 10th U-17 Afolabi Tournament

By Ifeanyi Eduzor

The 10th edition of the annual 2026 Taiwo Afolabi football tournament for U-17 boys and girls, ended in a grand style on Sunday, May, 31, 2026, with Fortune Fc of Oshodi and Labro Girls of Ipaja, emerging winners.

In an entertaining finals decided at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena (Onikan) Stadium, Lagos, Fortune Fc defeated Fc Dynamos of Iwaya by two unreplied goals to emerge winner, while in the female category, Labro Girls recorded a hard fought 5-4 penalty victory over Starlet Girls after their game ended goalless at regulation time to be crowned winners.

In the third place matches, decided days before the finals, Infinity Fc recorded a 3-2 victory over Apex Fc just as Fela Queens overcame Puma Queens by a lone goal to emerge the third best teams of the championship.

Speaking before presenting the medals and trophies to the winners, sponsor of the competition, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, the Executive Chairman of Sifax Group, expressed happiness that the tournament which he started 10 years ago to mark his birthday has grown bigger with a promise to sustain it.

” I want to say that as a lover of football and one who played as a striker during my school days, I decided to sponsor this tournament as part of activities marking my birthday as well as to promote grassroots football in the country and I’m happy with the successes it has recorded since inception.

” My main reason for sponsoring this competition is to support, encourage and motivate these young players to develop their talents because they’re the future of our tomorrow.

” You will also agree with me that football is what unites the world today and so, this is part of my support to the Federal Government to unite the country through football”, he stated

Dr. Afolabi while expressing happiness with the number of ex- internationals that graced the finals including; Daniel Amokachi, Waidi Akani, Tajudeen Disu, Sunny Epochi amongst others, urged the NFF to support grassroots football development and do what is right at all times.

Meanwhile, the President General of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo has commended Dr. Afolabi for his consistent sponsorship of the competition with an appeal to corporate organizations to emulate him.

” I’m quite impressed with what the Chief Executive Chairman of Sifax Group Dr. Afolabi has done these 10 years sponsoring a grassroots football tournament for both boys and girls.

“The championship has not only created a platform for these young players to exhibit their talents but has helped in the development of grassroots football in the country and I urge corporate organizations and we’ll to do Nigerians to emulate what he’s doing”, he stressed.

Winners of the competition in both male and female categories received a giant trophy, medals and N400,000 while the runners-up got N300,000 and medals respectively.

The tournament which was used to celebrate the 64th birthday of Dr Afolabi was organized by the Lagos State Grassroots Soccer Association.

A birthday cake was also cut to mark the sponsors birthday