Sporting Supreme FC have been handed a N40m cash prize after being crowned champions of the second edition of the Nigeria Youth League Cup, capping a memorable weekend with both silverware and a significant financial reward following their 2-0 victory over Grassrunners FC in the final at Eket Township Stadium, Sports Extra reports.
The prize was presented to the Abuja-based academy with the Nigeria Youth League making good on its promise to reward the champions in a manner that underlines the competition’s growing stature.
The hero of the final itself was Adeleke Abdulmuiz, whose second-half brace settled a fiercely contested encounter. The forward broke the deadlock in the 59th minute before putting the result beyond doubt with a second goal in the 85th minute, earning him the Man-of-the-Match award.
Sporting Supreme entered the final as underdogs against Grassrunners FC, who had gone through the group stage with a flawless record that included dominant victories over Darazo FC, Sunshine Stars and Right2Win.
Head coach Usman Bello and his assistant Eze Jude, however, deployed a disciplined low block that frustrated the high-pressing Ikenne side from the first whistle.
The opening half was a tense, tactical affair as both sides demonstrated the qualities that had carried them to the final. Grassrunners sought to impose themselves through quick attacking transitions while Sporting Supreme, known by the slogan “Top Quality,” maintained their shape and patiently probed for spaces in the opposition defence.
Despite chances at both ends, neither side found a breakthrough before halftime.
The turning point arrived in the 59th minute when a lightning-fast counter-attack carved open the Grassrunners defensive line with crisp, vertical passing, and Abdulmuiz composed himself to score from close range, sending the Sporting Supreme bench into celebration.
The goal forced Grassrunners to commit more players forward in search of an equaliser, but Sporting Supreme absorbed the pressure with maturity and composure before striking again in the 85th minute through Abdulmuiz, whose second finish completed his brace and sealed the championship in emphatic fashion — and secured the N40 million prize that followed shortly after.