By Abolanle Oluwatola
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday won the 2025 Ships & Ports Maritime Cup, defeating long-standing rivals the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), popularly known as the Dantsoho Jets, 4–1 in a tense and pulsating final.
The triumph marks Customs’ sixth Maritime Cup title, further cementing their unrivalled dominance in Nigeria’s foremost sectoral football competition.
The match, played at the Stable Sports Complex, Surulere, Lagos, unfolded before a record crowd of football fans, maritime stakeholders, supporters and spectators who turned the arena into a pulsating spectacle of colour, sound, festivity, carnival spirit and spirited camaraderie.
Their energy and enthusiasm created an atmosphere worthy of a grand finale, underscoring the tournament’s stature as the most important sporting event in the maritime industry.
The match itself delivered on its promise of drama and excitement. Customs opened the scoring in the 21st minute through their talismanic striker and highest goal scorer, Abubakar Mikail, whose sharp finish ignited early celebrations among their supporters.
NPA responded with resilience and equalised in the 49th minute through Ibrahim Abdullahi, a goal that intensified the tempo and sharpened the competitive edge of the contest.
The first half closed at 1–1, setting the stage for a gripping second-half showdown between the two sides, who had earlier clashed in the fiercely contested Group B fixtures.
After the interval, both teams returned with renewed determination, aggression and tactical intent. Every ball was contested with purpose, every movement countered with resistance.
However, Customs soon found their rhythm and asserted their superiority. Mikail struck again in the 70th minute to restore Customs’ advantage. Ten minutes later, Emmanuel Toryila widened the gap with a confident finish, and in the 84th minute, Sani Buhari added a fourth goal, effectively sealing the match and ending NPA’s hopes of a comeback.
The intensity of the encounter also manifested in the referee’s notebook. Centre referee John Ojeleye issued three yellow cards: one to Customs’ Funmi Orunesajo in the 32nd minute, and two to NPA’s Nwodo Jonathan and Nwoko Henry in the 24th and 65th minutes respectively.
Orunesajo was subsequently expelled after receiving a second yellow card, while NPA’s Eletu Olamilekan was shown a red card for violent conduct.
Despite both teams being reduced to ten men, the pace and fervour of the match remained undiminished as each side fought relentlessly to maintain control.
In the end, Customs prevailed, securing a historic sixth Maritime Cup triumph to add to their previous victories in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2017. No other team has matched this remarkable achievement, firmly entrenching Customs’ legacy as the tournament’s most successful side.
Earlier in the day, Comet Shipping, champions of the 2024 edition, defeated 2010 champions Micura Services Limited 1–0 to claim the bronze medals.
At the closing ceremony, gold medals were presented to the triumphant Nigeria Customs Service, silver medals to the Dantsoho Jets and bronze medals to Comet Shipping.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) received the Fair Play Award, while all individual honours were swept by Customs players: Ahmad Shamsu emerged Best Goalkeeper, Abubakar Mikail claimed the Highest Goal Scorer accolade, and Adeniran Afeez was named Most Valuable Player.
The 2025 Maritime Cup trophy was proudly sponsored by leading stevedoring company Micura Services Limited, rounding off what will be remembered as one of the most vibrant and memorable editions of the tournament’s history.