By: Adekunle-Oni Daniel

On September 16, 2025, around 5:25 PM, a friendly match between the University of Ibadan (UI) Pioneers and the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Giants ended in disruption, IndyPress reports.

The match, hosted by the Sigma Club, University of Ibadan, was part of the opener for the 2025 Sigma Sports Festival.

While the match between the female teams of both Universities unfolded as expected, that of male teams ended in disruption.

The interrupted match had commenced with high intensity, with  both male teams showing the determination to dominate. The deadlock was finally broken in the second half when the OAU Giants took a 1-0 lead from a corner kick.

The disruption, as observed by  IndyPress correspondent at the scene, occurred following a collision involving two players, with the  referee allowing  the play to continue while the OAU player was down outside the field of play.

Reacting, an OAU fan called for a card  to be issued to the UI player, a request that attracted fury from the UI fans, leading to a commotion among the spectators and escalating into a physical altercation between the  fans of both tertiary institutions.

Relentless efforts to de-escalate the commotion proved abortive, as  fans of both Universities breached the pitch,  resulting in  premature conclusion of the match, IndyPress gathered.

The OAU supporters decried what they described as poor officiating. The coach of the OAU Giants pulled his players off the field, refusing to continue the match. Reacting, the UI fans chanted loudly, directing jeers at both the male and female OAU teams as they exited the field.

IndyPress observed that off the pitch, tensions remained high as bottles and sachets of water were thrown among the student fans of both institutions.

The situation remained unaddressed until the University of Ibadan Campus security service, Abefele, arrived at the scene. The security operatives escorted the OAU delegation out of the UI campus.

In an interview with Indy Press, the University of Ibadan Students’ Union Sports Secretary, Victor Kolawole, described the incident as an emotional outburst that was beyond control.

“First, I appreciate the University of Ibadan students for trooping in their numbers. It showed the genuine passion that every Uite has for the school. The brawl was an outburst of emotions that went overboard pretty quickly,” Kolawole Victor said.

He also disclosed that since the incident, the University of Ibadan Students’ Union leadership had been in communication with their OAU counterparts to ensure peace and continued collaboration.

He added, “There’s no breakdown in the relationship between both Unions. We’ve spoken at length and have both reconciled.”

Restless efforts by IndyPress to obtain comments from the leadership of Sigma Club UI, the host of the Sports Festival, regarding the development were unsuccessful as of press time.