Ighalo Football Academy of Epe will put up better performances in order to win this year’s 1X Bet Cup in Lagos, according to their coach, Adeyemi Oyeyemi.
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While assessing his side’s form in their first group match on Monday, Oyeyemi told sports247.ng that everybody at Ighalo FA is aiming to clinch the 1XBet trophy.
He recounted how they fell short of the trophy last year, when they lost in the final, and reckoned that the experience provided them with the zeal of going all the way this time out.
Oyeyemi stated as much after his side’s 2-0 win against Young Strikers of Lagos Island, which he believes showed what they are capable of doing in this year’s edition of the prestigious community competition.
“I’m very happy that we started on the right note,” Oyeyemi began, “Our target is to get back to the final and eventually win the cup.
“We were close in the last edition, but this one, I know, by God’s grace, we will make it. We will make it this time around because we are fully prepared.”
Oyeyemi then spoke about his game plan towards achieving the aim of lifting the cup, saying: “As it is now, we are taking one game at a time.
“We are not yet looking at the trophy, but, now that we are through with this one, our next focus is on our next opponent.
“We want to take it step by step. As long as we take it step by step, we will surely get there.”
He concluded with a reflection on the lessons learnt from Monday’s victory, which he said came against a very tough rival, who gave his team the right challenge in their trophy ambitions.
Oyeyemi submitted: “They are a very good side and one of our toughest rivals. They lost last year’s semi-final and placed third, while we were second.
“So, we know each other very well, and it’s more of a rivalry. In the last edition, we beat them 3-1, but this time it’s 2-0. So, I think we are doing well.
“This is the first game. Gradually, we will build up towards better results, and we will gain more momentum.
“You will see us play better than this as we go along. We will get stronger with each match that we play.”
