The opening ceremony of the Chief of Naval Staff and Naval Officers Wives Association Soccer tournament was recently held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, Enugu State. This combined tournament, comprising the 20th edition of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) and the 12th edition of the Naval Officers Wives Association (NOWA) Soccer tournaments, commenced formally on Monday, April 7, 2024, and concluded on Friday, April 12, 2024.
Representing the CNS was Fleet Commander Central Fleet Rear Admiral NC Ekwom. These tournaments have been pivotal in fostering youth development nationwide, with teams from 19 different states participating, including Abia, Abuja, Anambra, Ebonyi, Benue, Enugu, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Osun, Imo, Nasarawa, Rivers, and Kaduna.
The week-long event officially concluded on Saturday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, with dignitaries from various sectors in attendance. Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla was represented by Navy Secretary Rear Admiral Patrick Nwatu, while the Chief of Air Staff was represented by Air Officer Commanding Ground Training Command Air Vice Marshal UK Abdullahi. Commissioner for Youths and Sports Barrister Lloyd Ekweremadu represented the Enugu State Governor Peter Mba, among others.
The final matches and closing ceremony were vibrant and memorable, with excitement palpable among football enthusiasts. In the third-place match, the Kogi boys’ team secured victory over their Rivers State counterparts with a 1-0 win. Meanwhile, in the NOWA girls’ final match, the Imo State team clinched victory with a 4-0 win over Ebonyi, claiming the NOWA trophy for the first time.
Host team Enugu boys, supported by Reverend Father Mbaka, emerged triumphant, defeating their Abia opponents 5-0 to win the male trophy. Individual awards were also presented, with Nwodo Nicholas of Enugu named the best male goalkeeper, Wisdom Boniface awarded highest goal scorer and most valuable player with 6 goals, and Imo’s Okpara Jacklin named the best female goalkeeper.
Numerous other awards were handed out, adding color to the occasion. The Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) expressed gratitude to players and officials for their contributions to the success of the tournaments, while the Nigerian Navy congratulated the youths for their discipline and encouraged them to remain focused and hardworking for the country’s future.
