Oyedeji Intercollegiate: COE thrash Lead city, meets Unilag in semifinals

College of Education Minna, (COE) continued their brilliance in the ongoing Olumide Oyedeji Intercollegiate Basketball championship in Lagos thrashing Lead city, Ibadan, 119-82 to claim their third consecutive victory.

COE dominated the game from the first quarter recording a 23-19 and 55-35 in the second quarter and effortlessly took the game beyond Lead city’s reach in the third and final quarters.

In their other group matches, COE downed Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 106-78, and crushed North America University, Houdegbe, 115-46 for 100 percent record in the group stage.

COE looking good enough for the trophy would clash with the University of Lagos, Akoka, in the semifinals.

Coach Ishaka Yahaya of the COE told the News agency of Nigeria that the team has worked very hard in preparations for the basketball tournament.

“We are very happy about our fine performance, we have a very good team and each player is very committed to the success of the team.

“We are confident of reaching the finals, but we do not underrate any team because anything is possible.

“We main focus to our objective and which is top emerge champions at the end of the competition,’’ Yahaya said.

Taiye Sobogun of the Lead City told NAN that his players were completely overwhelmed by the qualities of the COE team.

“We gave it our best but it was not enough to contend with the firepower of the COE team, I admit they are a very good side,’’ Sobogun said

In other final group matches decided, OAU defeated NAU, 76-67, Ahmadu Bello University defeated Yaba College of Technology, 76-55 while host school University of Lagos Akoka, beat Federal University of Technology, Minna, 63-57.

ABU will play OAU in the semifinals, while COE will play Unilag for a place in the final.

The Olumide Oyedeji Intercollegiate Basketball Championship is holding at the University of Lagos Akoka, sports centre with eight teams competing for the championship honours.

The competition which is the brain child of Olumide Oyedeji, the former national team’s captain, is in its second year running.

It is sponsored by Power Horse Nigeria’s number one energy drink.