Chekas United FC have turned old disappointment into silverware, winning the Badagry divisional qualifiers for the 2026 Spires 5-Aside Naija Street Soccer tournament after a tense sudden-death penalty shootout against debutants Smiler All Champions FC over the weekend.
Key takeaways
- Chekas United FC clinched the Badagry qualifying title by edging Smiler All Champions FC on sudden-death spot kicks.
- The qualifiers were staged at the Honourable Lukman Olumoh Sports Complex in Awori-Ora, Ajegunle.
- Three teams earned direct passage to November’s state finals following the regional competition.
- Chekas United FC won the top prize of N500,000 along with a place in the state championship.
- Smiler FC received N300,000 as runners-up, while Emaljus FC secured the final state spot after a 2-1 third-place win over All Saints FC.
- All Saints FC forward Moses Obi took home a N50,000 award as the tournament’s leading scorer.
Chekas United win dramatic shootout in Awori-Ora
The regional qualifying tournament, contested by eight teams, produced a fresh order in the division. Chekas United — last year’s losing finalists — pushed through a resilient challenge from Smiler FC, eventually prevailing after a closely fought 3-3 draw in regulation time forced a penalty decider.
In the shootout, Chekas United dug deep to seal their place as champions of the Badagry section, denying the debutants a first major title at the divisional level.
Automatic qualification, shocks, and state-final rewards
The Badagry qualifiers delivered immediate rewards for the top sides heading into November’s state finals. Chekas United’s triumph secured their qualification, while the competition also handed direct progression tickets to two other teams from the eight-team field.
Smiler All Champions FC, making their first appearance at this stage, surprised many by reaching the final with a sharp, controlled run. By contrast, earlier divisional heavyweights All Saints FC suffered an unexpected early exit, failing to earn a route to the state championship later this year.
Chekas United claimed the N500,000 grand prize in addition to their state finals ticket. Smiler FC earned N300,000 as runners-up, while Emaljus FC collected N100,000 and the final qualifying slot after beating All Saints FC 2-1 in the third-place playoff.
There were also individual honours: All Saints FC forward Moses Obi finished as the tournament’s highest scorer and received N50,000, even though his side did not progress beyond the divisional stage.
Organisers praise grassroots spectacle ahead of Ikeja
After the final whistle, Victor Ottah, the Public Relations Director for the Spires 5-Aside Naija Street Soccer Tournament, praised the quality on display and the intense atmosphere created by local supporters. Ottah said the Badagry division offered a genuine showcase of determination and excitement, and he suggested organisers expect a similar level of energy from the forthcoming Ikeja qualifiers.
Tournament Brand Ambassador Chukwudi Ezugwu added his voice to the praise, highlighting the work of the initiative’s founder, Dr. Bankole Allibay, for building a platform that helps grassroots players develop and progress their careers.
Ezugwu also urged corporate organisations to deepen their sponsorship of youth development programmes, arguing that investment at grassroots level is key to sustaining talent pipelines.
Next stop: Ikeja qualifiers
With the Badagry stage concluded, the preliminary tour moves to Ikeja for the next phase. Eight additional teams will compete there for the remaining places in the main tournament, which is scheduled to take place in November.
