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By Rasaq Oboirien
Kenedinum Nelson, a former captain of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Football Club (MFM FC), led his Okoko All Stars team to victory, securing the title at the 2025 Navaney Foundation/St Mary’s All Stars Championship Cup.
The finale, held at the Nathaniel Idowu Football Pitch in Orege-Ajegunle, Lagos State, saw Iganmu/Apapa All Stars fall to Fire by Force All Stars 1-3 in the third-place match.
In a gripping showdown, Okoko All Stars triumphed over Mile 2 Estate All Stars with a final score of 3-1. Despite Mile 2 Estate taking an early lead into halftime, the second half saw Okoko All Stars unleash their full potential, quickly levelling the score. Nelson then struck again, motivating his team to dominate the match and seal the trophy along with a share of the One Million Naira prize money.
Simultaneously, the event marked the kickoff of the 3rd Navaney Foundation Women’s Football Championship, featuring over 20 female teams in a Knockout Free-Age football format. On the first day of matches, Victorious Angels, FC Phoenix, and CAT Ladies decisively advanced to the next round by defeating their opponents—Victory Queens 4-0, Aseyori Queens 6-0, and United Squad Angels 3-0, respectively.
Chief John Akpan, founder of the Navaney Charity Foundation, emphasized, “As a charity organization, Navaney Charity Foundation is unwavering in its commitment to empowering the girl-child and communities, promoting positive values through football, which possesses the remarkable ability to unite, inspire, and transform lives.”
“One significant takeaway from the Navaney Foundation Women’s Football Championship was the inclusion of three girls in the national U-17 Women’s Flamingos team, which represented Nigeria at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
“We would love to do more, but we face a few challenges, including funding and the lack of facilities to host female championships. Therefore, we are urging the private sector to invest more in the girl-child.”
On the All Stars event, “In line with the precedent set in Season One, a total prize pool of N1, 000,000 was at stake, with the winner receiving N500, 000, the runner-up earning N300, 000, and the third-best team awarded N200, 000.
This initiative is a powerful means of supporting All Stars players who have transitioned away from active football.”
