By: Lawal Damilare

The clouds are beginning to gather, and once again, we are about to witness a rain of fun, talents and most especially, the alluring nature of football at the University of Ibadan. For lovers of the round leather game, it is no longer news that the ‘battle for glory’ is here, with the question ‘who will be crowned the champion of seal cup?’ in our minds.

The Seals Cup draws which took place on Monday, July 22 2024, has informed us that we will have a total of 32 teams battling for the crown. In this article, we will examine each group, discuss the previous strength of various teams, from both of their past and recent appearances in competitions.

GROUP A

In Group A, we see defending champions, Philosophy, placed alongside Elect-Elect, Veterinary Medicine, and Statistics. Due to recent performances, Philosophy seems to be the most likely to leave this group at the top considering they are defending champions and have made it into the knockout stage in the last two sessions.

Philosophy’s talisman, John Papi, has a record of the highest number of goals in the history of the tournament. Despite this, Veterinary medicine has proven to be a formidable force, with its share of experienced talisman. Veterinary medicine has made considerable amount of appearance and does have enough experience to offset philosophy. For Statistics, it has never been a walk over. The expectation is to see a great threat from them, but considering team depth, they may have issues edging Vet to the lab.

Elect-Elect will go into this tourney as the underdog in GROUP A. They have barely enough experiences. Considering data from the concluded session, it has struggled to leave with something tangible in the Seals Cup, as it couldn’t earn a knockout at the interfaculty level. Be that as it may, the team seems to be gaining ground and we hope to see them compete in the real sense of the word.

In GROUP A, Philosophy may qualify top of the group as Veterinary Medicine snuggles it with Statistics for a second spot slot. Elect may look to steal a win against one of the big guns.

GROUP B 

Group B seems interesting as Agricultural Engineering was slotted alongside English, Pharmacy and Microbiology.

It is tough to draw a conclusion from this group as these times seem a good match for each other, except for English. Nevertheless, the big boys from FASSA’s Microbiology, may be pulling up surprises, as we have seen them do in the last interfaculty. Although the squad looks young, their appearance in this tournament will edge them either ways with experience.

Pharmacy seems to be a large squad, although their competence to deliver is largely doubted. In external competitions, we haven’t seen the Faculty of Pharmacy go past the knockouts in Seals Cup since its inception. Notwithstanding, they are not void of talents, wingers like Mustapha will be big threats on the attack.

Agricultural Engineering will however go into this tournament with a rich squad, despite being inexperienced at Seals Cup, they have managed to perform fairly at other competitions in the last interfaculty (faculty of tech,) they made it pass the knockout stages. Talisman like Ehis, and experienced players like Decool will want to take them to glory. But despite these positives, they haven’t really delivered in external competitions in the last two sessions. They couldn’t make it far in the last Gala cup, so they may have a lot to prove.

English on the other hand, will have a lot of doubts to answer for, their appearance in external tournaments have not been well known, and from inference, they may fit to be described as the little fellow. Nonetheless it is football, we have seen underdogs wall through tournaments like we saw Leicester in the premier league 2015/2016 session, or Tuchel’s Chelsea winning the 2021 champions league.

As it only a hope to see English do the same, for now, Microbiology may leave the group ahead, with pharmacy and Agricultural Engineering struggle for the second place. English department can however prove us otherwise by answering the questions tags or odds set before it in this outing.

GROUP C

Mechanical Engineering, History, Nursing, and Psychology are the teams to compete in Group C

This is a very tough group as many of these teams are quite decent. Mechanical Engineering, named Techs champion, on some occasions, hopes to redeem itself after its performance at the last outing. They had barely survived in their last group, losing 3-0 on their opening game day. Despite Mech’s performance within the Faculty of Tech, the field performers have failed to deliver externally when called upon. It is hoped that this does not persist.

History looks to rewrite history, as inexperience might just cost them some gains. Psychology seems to be the far most experienced, like other Social Sciences teams. They have appeared at the tournament. Recalling their 2022 campaign, they blazed above the group, securing maximum points. It may not be any different this year.

Contrary to what people think, Nursing will not go into this tournament as underdogs, despite the fact that they are labeled having issues with squad depth. Nursing has shown in previous competitions that it can compete when composed. However, considering its crash from the group stages last session, it may struggle also to make it out of this group.

In this strained group, we tip Psychology to come out top, while Mech might come behind with History going to the last to fight for their spot. Nursing will look to pull up surprises, but that will be till we see.

Group D 

Group D is talent struck. Industrial and Production Engineering, Linguistics, Physiology, and Adult Education will fight for their spot in the knockout.

The very talented Industrial and Production Engineering will look to finally crown themselves this year as champions after numerous years of going out in the semi(s). At crucial stages in the tournament, for two sessions, IPE has been the best tech team with regards to Seals Cup Its talents seems to be at its prime. Players like Pius, Vk, Bukunmi, Kenneth and Paragon cannot be overlooked.

IPE qualified with maximum points from the last Group stages and it may yet reoccur. Physiology led the group last session topping the group with a total of seven points. Considering the last outing, they made it past knockout and they are a very formidable opponent to either top the group or secure their spot in the round 16.

Linguistics however will be looking to make a surprise appearance as they missed out of the tournament last session, considering the vast experience of their opponents. It will be really tough to pull a surprise. They may look to register a statement in this group.

Adult education, a very strong team from the Faculty of Education will not be anywhere behind Physiology and IPE, the winner of the last interfaculty competition will look to make their mark. Despite coming third in the last outing, the team will seek redemption.

Group E

Alongside Urban and Regional Planning, MBBS, Faculty of Education big boys, Human Kinetics, and Economics will be battling it out here.

It is common knowledge that economics have failed to impress any in any external competition in almost two sessions. We remember their 4-0 deficit just last session at their opening game day, and closing the group with zero points and a minus 10 goal difference. This session we don’t tip them to be any better, as the other teams are formidable opponents with quality experience. Nonetheless, it is football. We have seen the worst of teams upset big teams. Will Economics pull a Mourinho Porto on us ? We await.

MBBS seems to be one of the dominant teams walking into this tournament, they qualified top of their group last session, and even made it to the knockout stage in the last two editions. The squad depth is also another threat MBBS will seem to pose, however it will be tough, looking at the indefatigable KHE. KHE qualified second from their group last session, and impressively despite that it could not go really far.

In this Group, we hope to see MBBS top the group with KHE going in as second. For URP, we hope to see them star and compete, as this will make a new appearance for them in the tournament. But for now, we will consider them underdogs.

Group F 

This Group has Wood Products Engineering, Architecture, Animal Science, and Political Science.

Introspecting into this group, Wood Products Engineering seems like the strongest, despite crashing out of the Group stages last session. But the quality in the team cannot be denied. Star boy Mjay may be making a mark at this tournament. Other talents like M.J.B and other new legs will give them a short at this year’s knockout.

Animal science and Political science made it to the knockouts stages last session. This can mean many things in the tournament. Architecture seems to be the least competitive, after crashing out last session with zero points and a minus three goal difference. We will be hoping for an offset from them, but for now we keep them in their place – at an extension far from home.

From this, Political Science has a high chance of topping the group, Animal science may only pull up a shocker to qualify.

Group G

This group consists of Civil Engineering, Archeology/Anthropology coming in as a pair, Public Health, and Computer Science.

This group is quite interesting and from the surface we can conclude that Civil Engineering will make it out from this group, despite the fact that Civil didn’t register an appearance in the last tournament. The squad structure is quite impressive, players like Heskeyman, Ayo will be winding magic to get them a slot in the knockout.

Computer Science however dropped out of the tournament last session in the group stages, securing only one win. It is obvious that the squad has been rebuilding, and may look to surprise us.

Public Health crashed out of the group stages last session with one point, and Archeology/ Anthropology failed to register their presence last session.

From the above, Civil Engineering may likely top the group due to team quality, while Computer Science may come behind second.

Group F 

This group has Petroleum Engineering, Classics, Agriculture Economics, and Chemistry.

Petroleum Engineering has been a shadow of themselves in recent years. Just last session, it barely scraped two points, and ended at the bottom of the group. This year, Classics looks to overturn this misery. Classics, on the other hand, fairly performed better in the last tournament, after finishing third in the group last session with four points.

Agricultural Economics on the other hand will be making an appearance at this year’s tournament, hoping to slot chance. Chemistry seems to be the group favorite, recent years at external competitions have shown us enough, completing their group stage run with 6 points.

In this group, Chemistry should finish on top with Classics and PET struggling for a second slot.

The Seals Cup has officially started today Friday, 26th July 2024, with an opening ceremony. Veterinary Medicine and Philosophy will play in the opening game of the competition.