Baba Gee reporting from Leeds – The much-anticipated annual Nigerian Community Leeds (NCL) football tournament tagged Leeds African Cup of Nations (LACoN®) returned in all its glory on 23 June and 02 July 2022 after two years of Covid-19-related absence. The weather was superb on both days leading to a festival-like atmosphere, especially during the senior tournament.
First off was the junior tournament, known as Junior LACoN®, comprising primary school football teams in the LS9 postcode area of Leeds city, vying for the champions trophy. Five teams, All Saints CE Primary School Leeds, Richmond Hill Academy 1 Leeds, Blenheim Primary School Leeds, Richmond Hill Academy 2 Leeds, and Shakespeare Primary SchoolLeeds, played each other through the various stages. The teams played their matches with much passion, drama, and the enthusiastic support of their mates to get to the finals played between Shakespeare Primary School and Blenheim Primary School. The match ended in a 2-2 draw at the final whistle, and a penalty shootout decided it, won by Shakespeare Primary School Leeds to the delight of their mates and supporters.
Junior LACoN Winner: Shakespeare Primary School Leeds
Junior LACoN Runners-up: Blenheim Primary School Leeds
Junior LACoN Highest goal Scorer: Joe, scored 5 goals
It was a family affair when the senior LACoN® tournament took place on Saturday 02 July 2022, in glorious sunshine and a carnival atmosphere with Nigerian drummers and singers and a DJ providing music in keeping with the tempo of the matches. The young and not-so-young thronged the venue, Dixons Trinity Chapeltown Leeds, with Fifteen teams representing various African countries, including Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Eritrea, Guinea Bissau, Somalia, and The Gambia, participating in the tournament sponsored by Leeds City Council, BHI, Dixons Academy Trust, and Seeds Property Ltd.
Group Stage
| GROUP A | GROUP B | GROUP C |
| LS8 | SGS Sport – Chad | Congo FC |
| Djurtus United FC | Ballerz FC 2 | Nigeria Leeds |
| Somali FC | Habesha Time | Cameroonian Community |
| Ebor Gardens | Ballerz FC 1 | Eri 1 |
| The Invincibles | Gambian Team | Lion Dynasty |
After a series of exciting matches, the teams below proceeded to the knockout stage:
Knockout Stage
| Congo FCVs.Habesha Time |
| Cameroonian CommunityVs.Ballerz FC 1 |
| Djurtus United FCVs.The Gambian Team |
| Lion DynastyVs.The Invincibles |
The knockout stage matches were keenly contested and proved no less exciting, with four teams progressing to the semi-finals.
Semi-finals
| Djurtus United FCVs.Cameroonian Community |
| The InvinciblesVs.Habesha Time (Eritrea) |
Final
| Cameroonian CommunityVs. Habesha Time (Eritrea) |
The Eritreans, who had won previous tournaments, came into the final match as the hot favourites. Supported by the buzzing spectators, undoubtedly fuelled by the free Jollof rice and chicken with soft drinks, the Eritreans had hoped to race out of the blocks and shock the well-organised and dangerous Cameroonians. However, the Cameroonians pinned them in their half of the pitch for much of the first half. With the Eritreans’ plan A out of the window, they switched to plan B, hoping to wear their opponents down. The Cameroonians were having none of it, and in the end, their superior cohesion and firepower netted them a 3 -1 win.
Senior LACoN Winner: Cameroonian Community
Senior LACoN Runners-up: Habesha Time (Eritrea)
Senior LACoN Highest goal Scorer – Simi Oyebanji, 6 goals, played for Habesha Time (Eritrea).
NCL’s LACoN® Committee organised the tournament, supported by NCL volunteers who provided refreshments for the players and officials. Leeds City’s Councillor Luke Farley presented the trophies and medals to the winners. Undoubtedly, it was a memorable and exciting, fun-filled part of the sunny weekend.
The Nigerian Community Leeds (NCL) welcomes your gifts/donations toward realising the dream of Nigeria House Leeds. Please scan this QR Code to donate. Thank you.
