By Adekunle-Oni Daniel
On Thursday, October 23, 2025, the University of Ibadan male football team suffered a 3-0 defeat to the male team of the University of Calabar in the semi-finals of the Monieball 5-a-side football competition.
The match, played in the University of Calabar, started with the UI Pioneers pressing for the offensive. Pamilerin had the first shot at goal, which was easily caught by the UNICAL’s goalkeeper. Another shot came seconds later from Heskeyman, but it was stopped from entering the goalpost by the UNICAL goalkeeper.
UI Pioneers got more chances at goal than the UNICAL team in the first half of the game, but they were unable to convert any of the chances they had at goal. One key observation was that the UNICAL committed more fouls on the UI Pioneers, causing reactions from the fans stand.
UNICAL got their first goal in the first half, with UI going against one of the rules of the competition, costing a penalty. UNICAL’s penalty taker made no mistake finding the back of the net, giving them the lead over UI.
UI kept the offensive mode of the game but were unable to have a shot on target to complete their efforts. The referee blew the half time whistle with the scoreline at 1-0 in favor of UNICAL.
The second half started with UNICAL pushing to extend their lead, with the UI Pioneers goalkeeper, Olami, having a lot of work to do at the post. UI Pioneers changed strategy pushing Heskeyman forward.
UNICAL kept breaking the line of the UI Pioneers defense, giving Olami more highlight of the day. UNICAL scored their second goal, seeing an opening in the defensive line. With a shot that Olami was unable to stop, the UNICAL player belt one in, giving his team a 2-0 lead over the UI Pioneers.
UNICAL got their third goal as a replica of the second goal. An opening in the defense of the UI Pioneers gave way for the UNICAL shot which went past Olami into the goalpost.
The final minutes of the game, UI Pioneers pressured the defense of UNICAL but were unable to register a shot on target. The referee blew the whistle bringing the game to an end.
FUNAAB lost to UNILORIN 1-0 in the first match of the day, seeing the leaders of group B out of the finals. The University of Ibadan Pioneers would face the football team of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in the Legacy Stadium, Surulere, Lagos for the third-place football match.
