Chrisland School has emerged as the champion of the 2025 Daniel Oreoluwa Adebiyi (D.O.A) Foundation Soccer Challenge, following an all-Chrisland final that saw Team A edge out Team B in a closely contested 2-1 victory.
Now in its fifth edition, the annual tournament was established to honour the memory of late Daniel Oreoluwa Adeniyi, a promising young footballer and cherished member of the Chrisland School community.
The one-day event was held in Lagos and saw a notable increase in participation, highlighting its growing relevance in youth sports development.
This year’s competition featured six teams—Chrisland School A, Chrisland School B, Leeland, Honeyland, Supreme Education Foundation, and Ferscoat—divided into two groups for the preliminary round-robin stages.
After intense group and knockout matches, both Chrisland teams advanced to the final, delivering a thrilling match that showcased skill, teamwork, and tactical discipline.
Speaking at the medal presentation, Dr. Mike Adebiyi, CEO of D.OA, reflected on the significance of the event.
“Daniel Oreoluwa was our last son and a true soccer talent. Before his passing, he had secured a place in a European soccer academy and was set to begin his journey after final exams. Sadly, he never made it. In honour of his passion and dreams, we launched this tournament,” he said.
Dr. Adebiyi further revealed the foundation’s vision to expand the competition nationwide and ultimately sponsor the Most Valuable Player (MVP) to a European soccer academy.
The National President Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Isaiah Benjamin, represented by the association’s treasurer, Femi Amusan, commended the organisers.
“This tournament goes beyond football. It is a celebration of unity, resilience, and the immense potential of our youth. Football teaches life’s most important lessons: teamwork, discipline, respect, and perseverance,” he remarked.
In a standout individual performance, Onunkwo Chukwuebuka Jr. John was named MVP of the tournament for the second time.