More medals continue to be won in The Nigeria Bankers Games while football rounds up the group stages. The business end is around the corner!
FOOTBALL
Both the male and female football events posed some interesting permutations going into the final group stage matches. The battle to make it to the knockout stages went truly to the wire.
Match 1: Wema Bank vs First Bank (1-1)
In this group, Sterling Bank had already qualified for the semifinals leaving Wema Bank and First Bank to battle for the remaining spot.
A draw was good enough for First Bank who were in second place while Wema Bank needed an outright win to progress. This set the tone for a very tense and highly charged final group game. Both knew the importance of the match as regards their qualification for the knockout stages. It was a fiercely contested match with Deborah Onigbolabi (Wema Bank) scoring in the first half and temporarily giving Wema Bank the edge. Not too long after the restart, First Bank equalized and despite the best efforts of both teams to get a second goal, the match ended in a stalemate. Based on the last permutations, First Bank qualified for the knockout stages.
Match 2: UBA Vs Access Bank (0-1)
The second women’s football match presented a more interesting permutation as all three teams had a shot at qualifying for the knockout rounds.
A win for either side will take them to the semifinals along with FCMB, A draw with no cautions will mean that for the first time in the history of the NBG, a game will be decided by drawing of lots.
The match was closely fought with but no goals were scored in the first half. The second half continued in much the same vein as the first half with both teams giving as much as they got. As the half was nearing its end and everyone beginning to look forward to the drawing of lots, Oluwatobilola Fasina of Access Bank took matters into her hands byscoring the only goal.
Her goal deservedly earned her the woman of the match award. This win ensured that Access Bank topped the group and qualify for the semifinals alongside FCMB who finished in second place.
Here are the standings after Matchday 4
Group A
| S/N | Bank Name | P | W | L | D | GF | GA | AGG | Points |
| 1 | Sterling Bank | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
| 2 | First Bank | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | Wema Bank | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 |
Group B
| S/N | Bank Name | P | W | L | D | GF | GA | AGG | Points |
| 1 | Access Bank | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 2 | FCMB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | UBA | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
After the group stage matches, below are the semifinal pairings;
Semifinal 1 – Sterling Bank Vs FCMB
Semifinal 2 – Access Bank Vs First Bank
GOAL SCORER TABLE – WOMEN
| NAME | GOALS | BANK |
| Anwo Oluwatosin | 1 | Sterling Bank |
| Deborah Onigbolabi | 1 | Wema Bank |
| Oluwatobilola Fasina | 1 | Access Bank |
| Ilabiya Omaojo | 1 | First Bank |
CAUTION & RED CARD TABLE
| NAME | YELLOW CARD | RED CARD |
| – | – | – |
Male Football
In the male event, qualification to the quarterfinals was guaranteed for all teams, however, placement on the table determined how the quarterfinal pairings panned out.
Match 1: Access Bank Vs FCMB (0-3)
The first male football match featured Access Bank and FCMB. UBA who had played their 2 games and were on 4 points were topping the group, FCMB had a point and Access were yet to get a point. Theophilus Ogwuche (FCMB) opened the scoring in the 12th minute and not too long after Macvey Ubong scored a second goal for FCMB in the 27th minute. Access Bank did quell the incessant attack of FCMB and did get a few opportunities of their own, however, a third goal eventually came for FCMB off the boots to seal their top spot finish.
Match 2: First Bank Vs Taj Bank| (1-3)
The second match was between 2 teams who had yet to get off the mark and were in dire need of a good display. The game started on a very good note as both teams tested each other.
However, an unusual goal keeping error by the usually steady hands of Lucky of First Bank in the 18th minute of the first half gifted Taj Bank the opener as Kalu Oti’s tame ball was let slip into the net.
But less than 10 minutes later in the 27th minute, First Bank found the equalizer through Emmanuel Philip. The first half ended 1- 1.
The second half appeared to be balanced until Taj Bank’s Uchenna Chilekezie through a lovely header handed his team the lead. There was yet a third goal for Taj Bank through Sanni Saliu as First Bank got exposed as they went in search of an equalizer.
First Bank rang the changes as they desperately tried to claw back the 2 goals deficit. Their best efforts was however not enough.
This would be Taj Bank’s best game as they hope to do better exploits in the knockout rounds.
After Match Day 4, here is a look at what the table standings look like;
Group A
| S/N | Bank Name | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | AGG | Points |
| 1 | Wema Bank | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 7 |
| 2 | Sterling Bank | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 3 | Taj Bank | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 3 |
| 4 | First Bank | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 0 |
Group B
| /N | Bank Name | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | AGG | Points |
| 1 | FCMB | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 2 | UBA | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | Access Bank | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
Following the conclusion of the group stage matches, below are the quarterfinal pairings;
Quarter Final 1 – Wema Bank qualify straight to the semifinals
Quarter Finals 2 – Sterling Bank Vs Access Bank
Quarter Finals 3 – UBA Vs Taj Bank
Quarter Finals 4 – FCMB Vs First Bank
GOAL SCORER TABLE
| NAME | GOALS | BANK |
| Sammy Adewunmi | 4 | Wema Bank |
| Ayomide Ojo | 3 | Wema Bank |
| Eze Philemon | 1 | Sterling Bank |
| Tobi Mejedi | 1 | Sterling Bank |
| Collins Benjamin | 1 | Wema Bank |
| Adebayo Abiodun | 1 | Wema Bank |
| Chijoke Odoh | 1 | Sterling Bank |
| Amad Umar | 1 | UBA |
| Kalu Oti Udeubi | 1 | Taj Bank |
| Uchenna Chilekezi | 1 | Taj Bank |
| Sanni Salifu | 1 | Taj Bank |
| Theophilus Ogwuche | 1 | FCMB |
| Macvey Ubong | 1 | FCMB |
| Abdullahi Nuhu | 1 | FCMB |
CAUTION & RED CARD TABLE
| NAME | YELLOW CARD | RED CARD | BANK |
| Tolulope Obasa | 1 | Taj Bank | |
| Toyosi Obisesan | 1 | Sterling Bank | |
| Tijani Mojeed | 2 | Wema Bank | |
| Abdul Femi | 1 | Sterling Bank | |
| Idowu Jones | 1 | Sterling Bank | |
| Seyi Adewale | 1 | Wema Bank | |
| Micheal Nathan | 1 | UBA | |
| Yemi Lawal | 2 | 1 | Sterling Bank |
| Precious Peter | 1 | Taj Bank | |
| Kalu Oti | 1 | Taj Bank | |
| Ajayi Oluwaseun | 1 | Taj Bank | |
| Bankole Onaolapo | 2 | 1 | Wema Bank |
TENNIS
The Tennis event was finally concluded with winners emerging across all the featured events
Mens Doubles
The Men’s Doubles event concluded with Adeoju & Segun from Sterling Bank emerging victorious, it was a hard-fought game and proved to be a lovely game for the neutrals:
Here are the final standings for this year’s edition of Male Tennis Doubles:
Gold: Adeoju & Segun (Sterling Bank)
Silver: Gafar & Amana (First Bank)
Bronze: Edward & Abule (UBA)
Bronze: Udoh & Okigbo (Access Bank)
Female Doubles
The Women’s Doubles event also concluded last Sunday with the First Bank duo, Toyin/ Stella maris, going a step further this year to claim gold. This is how the female doubles event concluded:
Gold: Toyin &Stellamaris (First Bank)
Silver: Taiwo & Genevieve (Access Bank)
Bronze: Praise& Feko (Sterling Bank)
Bronze: Bukola & Titilayo (Wema Bank)
Mixed Doubles The Mixed Doubles event wasn’t left out of the fun and excitement as it also came to a close last week Sunday.
These are the results:
Gold: Segun & Feko (Sterling Bank)
Silver: Gafar & Toyin (First Bank)
Bronze: Opakunle & Bukola (Wema Bank)
Bronze: Chukwuma & Taiwo (Access Bank)
VOLLEYBALL
The volleyball event entered its penultimate stage as teams battled to get to the semifinals in both the male and female events.
Volleyball Male
There was great Volleyball on display as teams stretched themselves to qualify for the finals. There were tense and nervy moments, but at the end of the day the following teams made it to the finals;
Finals: Sterling Bank Vs Access Bank
Third Place: FCMB Vs First Bank
Volleyball Female:
Just as in the male event, the female teams raised their games to try and get to the final spots. In the end, after fierce battles, the following teams made it to the final matches;
Finals: FCMB Vs Wema
Third Place: Sterling Bank Vs Access Bank
VIDEO GAMES: (MORTAL KOMBAT 11)
Mortal Kombat took center stage as both male and female participants excitedly took to their pads to display their dexterity in the art of warfare.
A lot of talent was on display and as a result, there were a lot of spectators.
Male Mortal Kombat 11:.
Here are the results for the male mortal kombat 11:
Gold: Abiodun Ogunsemowo (UBA)
Silver: Bamidele Kolade (Wema Bank)
Bronze: Olakunle Sotubo (FCMB)
Female Mortal Kombat 11:
The female event also attracted a lot of attention from spectators. Participants showed their mettle and resolve and it reached its conclusion. Here’s how it ended:
Gold: Abang Nkenochuwe (Wema Bank)
Silver: Zainab Idris (FCMB)
Bronze: Seyifunmi Oladapo (Wema Bank)
CHESS
The game of wits also featured this past weekend. Returning participants as well new ones came well prepared.
The format featured 5 rounds of gritty, nervy and tense Chess battles for male and female.
Chess Male
After 5 rounds of chess, here is how the men finished;
Gold: Mark Sunama (First Bank)Silver: Onyibalu Somtochukwu (UBA)
Bronze: Ogundare Okiki Favour (Sterling Bank)
Chess Female
The female event was no less tenacious as the ladies battled for supremacy. Here are the results:
Gold: Oluwaseun Oloruntola (Access Bank)
Silver: Ngozi Uba-Eze (Access Bank)
Bronze: Okpani Margaret (Sterling Bank)
The Nigeria Bankers Game will enter its 5th week on Saturday 22nd November with quarterfinals for football for men and semifinals for women. Activities will continue at the Unilag Sports Complex, Akoka.
Athletics will take center stage on Sunday 23rd November at Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex.
The fun continues!
Fela is the Co-founder of MediaVision Limited .
