Airtel Rising Stars 4 Produces Lagos Zone Champions

Lagos female team emerged champion at the Lagos Zonal Finals of the U-17 Airtel Rising Stars championship.

The zonal finale held at the weekend took place at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) Pitch, Surulere, Lagos, with matches packed with excitement and great football skills.

The Lagos female team emerged champion after defeating their Ogun counterpart 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out as the regulated time ended goalless.

While in the male category, Team Oyo emerge champion as they played 1-1 draw with male Team Ogun in the regulated time, but won 8-7 by penalty.

Airtel Nigeria had recently announced the commencement of the 4th edition of Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) U-17 male and female tournament, a grass-root football talent search programme aimed at identifying and nurturing budding soccer talent from the grassroots onto a national stage.

The announcement, coming barely ten months after a successful hosting of the 3rd edition of the ARS, an Africa-wide grassroots tournament, underscores the company’s avowed commitment to creating excitement for sports lovers as well as providing empowerment opportunities for Nigerian youth.

Speaking at an event to announce the commencement of ARS 4 in Lagos, Segun Ogunsanya, chief executive officer & managing director of Airtel Nigeria, noted that the soccer initiative is the company’s contribution to sports development and youth empowerment in Nigeria.

Ogunsanya who was in the company of ex Super Eagles and Falcons Stars including Peter Rufai, Ann Chiejine, Chioma Ajunwa, Garba Lawal and Mutiu Adepoju said football in Nigeria elicits passion, creates fun and engenders unity.

“Airtel wants to be an integral part of local communities and our association with football has strong elements of creating positive change and engagement. ARS is our contribution to building and sustaining a rich pool of football talents for the Super Eagles and Falcons,” he said.

Lagos Zonal Champion, Lagos Female Team celebrating with the Trophy after defeating Team Ogun 4-3 by penalty. The regulated time ended goalless.