NPA Beats NIMASA to Win 2018 Maritime Cup

The Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) on Tuesday defeated the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to emerge winner of the 2018 edition of the annual Ships & Ports Maritime Cup Competition.

NPA defeated NIMASA 4-1after a tension soaked match to lift the coveted trophy for the first time since the competition started in 2009.

Also, defending champions, the Nigeria Customs Service defeated the Nigerian Navy 4-0 to win the third place match.

The matches played at the NPA Sports Ground Bode Thomas, Surulere, Lagos witnessed a large crowd and supporters of each team.

NIMASA scored the opening goal in the 4th minute through Anderson Onye but the NPA team equalised in the 9th and 20th minute through Bashiru Yusuf while Kabiru Zakari netted the third goal for NPA only three minutes into the second half.

Henry Nwosu sealed victory for NPA with the fourth goal in the 81st minute of the match.

The NPA team qualified for the final match on Saturday after a hard won victory over 2009 champions, the Nigerian Navy.

All the dignitaries that attended the closing competition expressed appreciation to Ships & Ports for organizing the competition. The official kick- off was performed by the President General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Adewale Adeyanju.

Adeyanju who lauded the organisers for sustaining the competition over the years promised that the union would support and also be part of the competition next year.

A total of 62 goals were scored in this year’s competition out of which Abubakar Mikaili of Customs scored seven to become the highest goal scorer.

Highly elated NPA’s Coach, Okafor Emmanuel, expressed appreciation to the Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, for given them the opportunity to participate in the competition.

Other dignitaries that graced the occasion were Assistant Director, Cabotage, NIMASA, Aminu Tarfa; Chairman, Shipowners Forum, Margret Orakwusi; General Manager Land & Asset, NPA, Engr. Jatto Adams; Chairman, team managers, Charles Okaga, Assistant General Manager, Monitoring &Compliance, NPA Iyawe Seyi and President, Dockworkers branch, MWUN, Comrade Ibrahim Tajudeen Ohize among others.