The Controller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Dr Bashir Adeniyi Adewale, and the Director-General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, are set for a showdown as their teams battle for the title in the 2026 Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Football Tournament holding on Saturday.
Both agency chiefs inspired their respective teams to victories in tense semi-final encounters played on Friday at the Old Parade Ground, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, setting the stage for an intriguing final.
Customs secured their place in the final after edging the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) 3-2 on penalties following a 2-2 draw at the end of regulation time.
NDLEA took the lead through Abbas Yusuf in the first half, but Customs responded through Mikail Abubakar, who equalised shortly before the break.
Abubakar struck again from the penalty spot in the second half to put Customs 2-1 ahead, taking his tally to four goals in the competition.
However, Customs’ goalkeeper, Charles M. Ahur, inadvertently scored an own goal in stoppage time after a long-range effort deflected into his net, forcing the match into a penalty shootout.
Ahur redeemed himself during the shootout, saving two penalties to help NCS secure a 3-2 victory and book their place in the final.
In the other semi-final, tournament debutants NIS stunned the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) 1-0 in another closely contested encounter.
After a goalless first half, Stephen Raymond converted a second-half penalty to give NIS the decisive victory and a place in the final.
NIS will face NCS in the tournament final on Saturday at the Area 3 Football Pitch, Abuja, at 2pm.
Before the final, NAF will take on NDLEA for the bronze medal at 11am, while NAWOJ will face the Women Football All Stars Association (WFASA) in the women’s final at 12:30pm.
