Nigeria Bankers Games 2016 Builds Towards an Exciting Climax

The Nigeria Bankers Games season 16 football event is gradually winding down!

Match day 4, which held on Sunday, 23rd October was very busy and exciting, as every team was involved in a matchup.

The match day featured four thrilling football matches.

In the first match of the day Sterling Bank played Ecobank.

The Sterling Jets buoyed by their victory over Union Bank were hoping to make it 2 wins in a row. That would have stood them in good stead to qualify for the semi-finals. They however encountered an Ecobank still smarting from losing to Fidelity Bank and were hoping to bounce back to winning ways.

The match started at a frenetic pace and immediately there was something to cheer about as Sterling Bank’s Owolabi Adebanjo’s lofty ball into the 18 yard was misjudged by Isah Kasim in goal for Ecobank. The ball slipped through his grasp and into the net. The Sterling Jets had gotten their dream start to the match. Ecobank had their work cut out for them as a second defeat will mean the end of the road for them.

The rest of the match was a tightly contested affair, Sterling Bank defending resolutely and Ecobank pressing for an equalizer. It was not until the dying minutes of the second half that Adewunmi Akeem who came on as a sub for Ecobank equalized to send the Ecobank fans into wild jubilation.

Sterling Bank would now have to wait for the outcome of the last game between Union Bank and Ecobank to know their fate while Ecobank’s fate is firmly in their hands, a win by 2 unreplied goals will guarantee a place in the semis for them.

The second match of the day involved UBA and FCMB.

UBA came into the match assured that a win would guarantee their progress to the semis while FCMB were hoping to bounce back from their defeat to First Bank on match day 3.

FCMB started the game in an exciting pace and should have taken the lead when they had a free kick from outside the 18-yard box but rather UBA stunned them by grabbing a goal in the 6^th minute through Adeyemi Lawal.

FCMB not allowing the early goal to destabilize them, mounted pressure on the UBA defence and their effort was rewarded as the referee awarded a spot kick when Audu Samuel brought down Nsikak Ekanem in the 14^th minute who scored the resulting penalty.

Both teams went at each other but UBA had other ideas and scored again through Cyprian Oyekachi on the 36^th minute.

The rest of the match was a tightly contested affair and FCMB were unable to find an equalizer. UBA with this result are guaranteed a place at the semi-finals as Group B runners up.

The third match of the day saw defending champions Fidelity Bank take on Union Bank. Fidelity Bank already on 6 points came into the game needing to solidify their position as group winners while Union Bank needed a win to stand any chance of qualifying as runners-up.

The match did not go as planned for Union Bank as Fidelity Bank totally dominated the game. Mboli Biniki scored a brace in the 25^th and 30^th minute while Mark Emeje scored a third goal in the 49^th minute. Fidelity still not content sent in Kazim Lamidi who also scored a brace in the 52^nd and 59^th minute.

With this result, defending champions Fidelity Bank will face 5-time champions UBA in the semi-finals.

In the last match of the day Stanbic IBTC faced 2015 runner-up First Bank.

First Bank came into the game knowing that a draw would guarantee their position at the summit of the table while Stanbic IBTC were hoping to bounce back from loss in their first match.

The game was exciting as both sides tested each other with First bank creating some good scoring opportunities but not converting them and Stanbic IBTC hitting them on the counter until the 24^th minute when First Bank eventually opened scoring through Onyegbu Austine.

In the second half, Stanbic IBTC tried to level the game but First Bank stood strong and resolute at the back eventually running out as winners with a lone goal.

SPECTATOR ENGAGEMENT

Spectators and fans alike were not left out, as they were treated to several engaging games.

On Sunday, spectators had the chance to win gifts by scoring in the “Free-kick Challenge”, “Take a Shot Game” and in the “Basketball Free Throw Challenge”.

At the end of match day four, here is how the log table looks;

GROUP A

TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	POINTS
FIDELITY BANK	3	3	0	0	8	0	+8	9
STERLING BANK	3	1	1	1	3	-3	0	4
ECO BANK	2	0	1	1	1	-2	-1	1
UNION BANK	2	0	0	2	0	7	-7	0

 

GROUP B

TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	POINTS
FIRST BANK	3	3	0	0	6	0	+6	9
UBA	3	2	0	1	7	5	+2	6
FCMB	2	0	0	2	1	-4	-3	0
STANBIC IBTC	2	0	0	2	1	-6	-5	0

Get ready for another exciting weekend!

Action continues this weekend with Chess, Scrabble, Table-Tennis and Lawn Tennis holding on Saturday, 29^th October at the DBI Indoor Pavilion, Oshodi, while match day 4 holds on Sunday, 30^th October 2016 at the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium Surulere, Lagos.

It promises to be another fantastic sporting weekend.

FIXTURES

SAT 29th OCT. 2016	12noon CHESS, SCRABBLE, TABLE TENNIS, TENNIS
SUN 30th OCT. 2016 MATCH DAY 5	1.50pm – 3.20pm ECO BANK v UNION BANK	3.30pm – 5pm FCMB v STANBIC IBTC

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We look forward to welcoming you.

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