Festus OYELAKIN & Chinelo NWABUNKA

The football team of the Catholic Church of the Ascension, Ascension FC, clinched first place in the final match of the maiden edition of the Unity Football Competition, a youth-driven sporting initiative designed to foster unity among Churches and engage young people through football held on Sunday 24th, August, 2025 at the SMA Formation House, Bodija.

The three-week tournament, hosted by Mani’s Event Management Agency, featured six teams: DDCC FC (Dare to Dream Christian Centre), Grace Point FC, Super Sharp Shooters (SSS), Brighter Future FC, Zoe Football Academy and Ascension FC.

In a spirited campaign marked by teamwork and resilience, SSS secured the cup while Ascension FC emerged as first runner-up. Individual brilliance was also recognized at the closing ceremony: Ogundairo Francis of Ascension FC was named Player of the Tournament for his outstanding performance, while Adeolu Ibukun also from Church of Ascension received the award for best supporter.

Speaking with the Ascension Media Team, Anita Dorsu, convener of the competition, highlighted the vision behind the Unity Cup: “The whole idea is to bridge denominational gaps between Churches and keep youths engaged through something they love - football. We hope that this tournament becomes a platform for unity, collaboration and positive engagement for young people.”

According to her, the event has also fostered rare interdenominational fellowship, as the parish priest of the Catholic Church of the Ascension – Rev. Fr. Francis Awotoye met with the Pastor of Dare to Dream Christian Centre (DDCC) during the competition, underscoring the essence of the initiative.

With its successful debut, the Unity Football Competition is set to become an annual platform for sportsmanship, friendship and shared values across communities.