Maritime Millionaires – the football team of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) – yesterday qualified for one of the two semi-final matches of the ongoing 5th Ships & Ports Maritime Cup Competition.
NIMASA secured its semi-final ticket by defeating leading terminal operator, APM Terminals Apapa by two goals to nothing yesterday morning at the Astro Turf of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
It is the first time NIMASA will emerge among the top four teams of the annual Maritime Cup Competition.
Jersey number seven, Ntebe Jude, scored the two goals for NIMASA in the 44th and 55th minutes of the game.
Defending champion, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has also secured a semi-final ticket, after defeating former champion and last year’s runner-up, Micura Stevedoring Services, by three goals to one.
Jersey number 10, Edim Mben, scored the first goal for Customs, 14 minutes into the first half, while jersey number eight, Abubakar Mukaila, tucked in the second goal in the 33rd minute of play, ending the first half two – nil in favour of the NCS.
Haliru Abdul, jersey number 15, scored the third goal for Customs in the opening minute of the second half.
It was not the first time Customs and Micura would confront each other in the competition.
Last year, the two teams slugged it out in the final match, with Customs prevailing by two goals to one.
In the third quarter final match played yesterday evening in the Main Bowl of the National Stadium, ENL Consortium defeated Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) four – two, via penalty shoot out after a barren draw at full time.
The last quarter final match, played at the Astro Turf saw Ocean Star defeat Nigerian Navy by two goals to one.
Femi Otunla of Ocean Star opened score in the fifth minute of the first half, while Davidson Dollar scored Nigerian Navy’s equaliser five minutes later.
Ogunde Emmanuel scored Ocean Star’s second goal in the 24th minute.
In the semi-final match slated for tomorrow, NIMASA will play against Ocean Star by 9.00am at the Astro Turf, National Stadium, while ENL Consortium takes on Nigeria Customs Service at the same pitch by 4.00pm