{
  "id": 19078782,
  "title": "First Bank/Samuel Okwaraji Cup: Ondo, Ogun, Imo, Abia, Others Qualify for National Finals",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/first-bank-samuel-okwaraji-cup-ondo-ogun-imo-abia-others-qualify-for",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-09T02:09:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/11/09/first-bank-samuel-okwaraji-cup-ondo-ogun-imo-abia-others-qualify-for-national-finals/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The inaugural Sam Okwaraji Championship, sponsored by FirstBank Plc, concluded its zonal qualifiers across the nation's six geopolitical zones, granting 12 schools entry into the national finals. The event, held in various centers, provided a platform for young athletes to display their talents.\n\nIn Lagos, Ondo and Ogun states qualified for the national finals after outperforming Lagos and Oyo. Ondo State claimed the championship of the zone with an impressive seven points from three matches, securing a perfect record. Ogun State secured the second spot, despite initially leading the pack, after narrowly defeating Oyo in their final match.\n\nAt the South-East center in Owerri, Imo and Abia states secured the two tickets to the national finals. Ezeachi Secondary School from Imo State emerged victorious, finishing the competition unbeaten with nine points after defeating Ebonyi State's Estington Academy International School. Abia State's Community Secondary School, Aba, claimed the second spot after a convincing win over Enugu's Saint Theresa College. This victory marked a significant turnaround for Abia, which had lost 1-0 to eventual group winners Imo in their second match.\n\nMeanwhile, in the South-South zone, Delta State and Rivers State qualified for the national finals. Delta State, the champions of the South-South zone, secured 10 points, while Rivers State finished second with seven points.",
  "summary": "The zonal qualifiers for the inaugural Sam Okwaraji Championship, sponsored by FirstBank Plc, have ended, with 12 schools securing tickets to the national finals. The qualifiers, held across the country’s",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}