Saturday match, played under the floodlight
at Pantami Stadium, Gombe, was sponsored by Central Bank of Nigeria, in
collaboration with NFF.
The lone goal, scored by Leonard Pankyes in
the 20th minute, was all that the FIRS team needed to clinch victory and pocket
the N2 million competition prize.
In the third place match played earlier,
Unity Bank defeated Bubayero Microfinance Bank with a similar goal margin.
In a post-match conference, Mr Godwin
Emefiele, CBN Governor, who was represented by Alhaji Shehu Goringo, CBN Branch
Controller in Gombe State, said the competition began in 1979.
Emefiele said CBN’s commitment to making
positive contributions to the promotion and development of football remained
the major reason for sponsoring the competition annually.
He said it was in line with the bank’s
Corporate Social Responsibility.
“ The competition, over the years, has also
served as a grooming ground for young football-playing bankers to become full
professionals and national team players.
“It is on record that some of our decorated
soccer heroes such as Kanu Nwankwo, Henry Nwosu and Stephen Keshi of blessed
memory, participated in this competition before representing Nigeria at several
national and international competitions.’’
The CBN boss appreciated the Gombe State
Government for hosting the finals and “we thank our long-standing partner, the
NFF, for its continued collaboration with CBN in organizing this tournament”.
On his part, President of NFF, Ibrahim
Gusau who was represented by Alhaji Babagana Kalli, the Chairman of Borno
Football Association, said the competition had made positive impact through the
years.
Gusau commended the CBN for preserving the
history of AFIFC by its continued sponsorship of the competition, adding “this
is really commendable and good for football development’’.
Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, who was
represented by Dr Larry Daniel, the Executive Secretary of Gombe State Sports
Commission, commended CBN and NFF for choosing to host the finals of the
competition in the state.
Yahaya said the state remained committed to
welcoming any interest that would bring development of any sector and
improvement of the well being of citizens.
NAN reports that 20 teams, comprising
regulators, deposit money banks and other financial institutions, participated
in the 2022 AFIFC.
By the outcome of the finals, SEC team will
go home with N1.5 million, while the Unity Bank will receive N1 million as
Bubayero Microfinance bank the fourth-placed team, will pocket N500,000. NAN