By: Lawal Damilare

The University of Ibadan’s second semester promises to be an exhilarating showcase of talent and competition, featuring electrifying matches, nail-biting finishes, and unparalleled displays of sportsmanship. Following the dramatic events of the previous semester, where the MBBS team pulled off a stunning upset against the star-studded IPE squad during the Seals Cup, the anticipation is palpable. Additionally, the unexpected early exit of Pogba’s Political Science team and the struggle of Mappe Statistics, which failed to progress past the quarter-finals, have set the stage for an interesting season ahead.

This semester’s football games are poised to deliver even more excitement, with rivalries intensifying and teams eager to redeem themselves. Fans and players alike are buzzing with anticipation as they look forward to thrilling matchups that could determine the fate of sport generally within the Campus. Stay ahead of the curve, with our comprehensive guide to the key games to look out for this semester, where every kick, every goal, and every save could be the difference between glory and disappointment.

SURVIVAL CUP

The Survival Cup is a football tournament organized for 200-level students of the University of Ibadan. The competition was initiated by the former SU Sports Secretary for the 2021/22 session, OJB.

The competition has hosted some of UI’s finest footballers and has served as a production chain for other departmental teams, faculties, and the school team at large. The Competition also gives room for 100 level students and Direct entry students to be able to participate provided they don’t break the rule of using only a maximum of five freshers in the whole squad list.

This year’s tournament is beaming closer as we expect to see a lot of action unfold. Considering the consistency of teams like IPE and MBBS, another formidable rivalry is inevitable but putting to perspective the nature of each team, the majority of these players are in levels above 200 level. We expect also to see teams from the Social science dominate. Sociology will love to pull up surprises and Political science will not be underdogs either. Fasten your belts, as we await the interesting competition ahead.

CBN CUP

The CBN Cup is an annual football tournament held every second semester exclusively for the freshmen of every department taking lectures at the monumental CBN lecture theater.The competition is majorly for 100 level students and gives the opportunity to fresh students to show their talents, and be possible options for either faculty teams.

INTERHALL

The University of Ibadan Students’ Union inter-hall cup is an annual event organized for all fresh students in the twelve (12) undergraduate halls of residence. It usually involves a group stage round of matches for the six (6) male hostels, while the female tournament usually involves a league format, and the top two (2) qualifies.

Several halls have been making efforts in putting their times together for possible friendlies in preparation of the competition, Just recently, Indy Hall faced Tedder in a close friendly, with Indy edging victorious, after an initial 2-0 deficit. This looks good for the team after crashing out of the competition last two sessions. Could this be Indy’s year? It is best found out later as semester opens up.

INDY INTER FANS LEAGUE

The Indy Inter fans league is an initiative that started off last session under the erstwhile sport commissioner of Great independence hall, Odunukan Collins, popularly known as Bobby Jay. Despite so many difficulties with the state of the Indy Maracana, a little bit of action was witnessed, exciting football fans all across the school. The current administration of Victor Kolawole has however done little as regards the league due to the difficulties and heavy rain faced during this session. When reached out to by Indy Press, Victor Kolawole ( VK) stated that “he has plans for resuming the league and publicity will soon be out, once everything is sorted, we can get back to enjoying football again”.

Will Chelsea come from the ashes? Will the dominant teams like Man U and Arsenal lead the table? We cannot wait to find out as it unfolds through this semester.

SIGMA CUP

The SIGMA Chief’s Cup had been introduced to innovate and engage the student body. This tournament was open to both male and female undergraduates from various faculties. The male teams, each consisting of seven players, were randomly formed, while the female teams represented their respective halls of residence: Alexander Brown Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Queen Idia Hall, and Obafemi Awolowo Hall.

The event aimed to foster a sense of community and friendly competition among students. Participants eagerly anticipated the matches, which brought together diverse groups and encouraged teamwork. The atmosphere was vibrant, filled with excitement and school spirit, as spectators cheered for their teams, creating a memorable experience for everyone involved. The Sigma Cup did not only begin but also birthed a more enticing competition.

In its first edition, the tournament featured both undergraduate and postgraduate students, with matches played at the SUB pitch and Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall Maracana pitch. The male category consisted of 16 teams, while the female category included 12 departmental teams. The male teams competed in a knockout format with both first and second legs, progressing to the semifinals, a third-place match, and the final. The female teams played in a knockout format initially, with the six winners advancing to a league stage.

This season, the Sigma Chief League will revisit our faces soon, as teams are beginning to cheer up for the big moments. The tournament, according to the organizer, will feature sixteen (16) teams, with separate male and female categories. Each male team will consist of 18 players, while the female teams will have 10 players.

During the press briefing, Sigma Chief’s League Committee chairman, Loyalist Afolabi Gideon, outlined the structure and arrangements for the tournament. He stated that medical services would be made available throughout the tournament, while confirming that referees would be provided by the Oyo State Football Association. According to him, the tournament has been endorsed by the Oyo State Ministry of Youth and Sport, as well as the Oyo State Football Association.

If these competitions above are not satisfactory? More competitions are likely to also come up this semester. Within halls, several inter-floor competitions are said to take place, for instance within Indy Hall, KEFA is yet another game to look forward to. There are a whole lot of exciting matches as we have seen unfold, so grab your popcorn as we all ride into the semester.