Date: 2012-03-26

Kwara Football Academy Secondary School, a brainchild of Senator Bukola Saraki are the champions of the 2012 NNPC/Shell Cup.

The lads from Ilorin emerged champions as they defeated their counterparts from National Foundation College, Ughelli, Delta State, in a thrilling final match played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Sunday evening. 

The boys from Kwara carried the day winning 4-1 on penalties after both teams were first tied 2-2 at the end of regulation as well as extra time. 

For their efforts, the Kwara team got a prize money of N2.5m which organisers say must be used to develop sports particularly football in the school. 

Each registered player of the team also got N50,000 each and the team is to represent Nigeria at a school's tournament billed for the United Kingdom in July . 

Senator Bukola Saraki who was one of the dignitaries at the stadium could not hide his joy as he jumped and danced with the young boys that did him proud on the day. 

Road to finals
To get to the national finals, KFA  defeated Anglican Comprehensive College, Offa, 2-1 in the state final. The team then went on to defeat, Christ School, Ado Ekiti, Dairy Farms Secondary School, Agege, and Ansaru-Islam Secondary School, Ede to emerge zonal champions.

In the quarter final, they edged out Alamunwa Grammar School, Ado-Odo 1-0 before capping it up with another win over Government Arabic College, Kano,  in the semi final. 

Former Super Eagles star, Jonathan Akpoborie, described the final match as the best game he has watched in Nigeria in a long time. 

The NNPC/ Shell Cup, now in its 14th year, was conceived to have football and education go hand in hand