After leading his team to victory at the football competition during the NiMSA Games at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Rio, the captain of Ambrose Alli University (AAU) football team, expressed his joy and determination to return to his academic commitments.
Speaking after the 1-0 victory over the University of Ibadan, Rio revealed that he had been playing with a hamstring injury throughout the tournament. “I’m going back to AAU to focus on my studies. I’ve missed several academic activities, so I need to catch up. I played this competition with a hamstring injury, and now I need to give myself time to heal.”
Reflecting on the team’s triumph, Rio expressed pride in the collective effort that led to their success. “I feel really happy because we came together to win this competition. In the end, it doesn’t matter who scored first; we worked as a team. We defended hard, and when we had the chance to attack, we did. We were fortunate, and we thank God for everything.”
This victory marks Rio’s third NiMSA Games appearance, and he shared how each experience has shaped his football journey. “This is my third NiMSA competition. In the first one, at UNILORIN, I was still in 200 level and managed to score a goal. In the next edition in Port Harcourt, I scored the winning goal in our group stage game. Coming into this one, I was playing in defense and wondered how I would get my third goal. Luckily, I did, and it feels great to celebrate.”
With the win secured, Rio now turns his focus to recovery and his academic responsibilities, hoping to balance his passion for football with his studies at AAU.