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Joshua Olaegbe emerged as the hero when his second-half penalty secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory for Celebration Church International (CCI) Yaba over CCI Ikeja to win the prestigious Pastor Iren Emmanuel (PIE) Cup at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
The hotly contested final attracted a vibrant crowd, including Apostle Emmanuel Iren and his wife Pastor Teju, who witnessed an entertaining encounter between two determined teams.
CCI Yaba started the match brightly, dominating possession and creating several promising chances in the early stages.
However, despite their offensive intention, they could not find the goal before the break.
CCI Ikeja gradually entered the contest after the 15th minute, responding with a series of attacking moves of its own. Their efforts tested the Yaba defense but a lack of clinical finishing kept the score level.
The decisive moment came with a penalty for CCI Yaba. Olaegbe stepped forward with confidence and calmly converted from the penalty spot, sending the goalkeeper in the wrong direction and sparking wild celebrations among the Yaba supporters.
Despite late pressure from CCI Ikeja in search of an equaliser, CCI Yaba remained disciplined in defense to preserve their slim lead and seal the PIE Cup title.
Earlier in the day, CCI Egbeda claimed third place after recording a convincing 2-0 win over CCI Ajah in the third place playoff.
After the final whistle, Apostle Emmanuel Iren presented the championship trophy to CCI Yaba, congratulating the winners for their outstanding performance and celebrating the spirit of unity, sportsmanship and healthy competition displayed throughout the tournament.
The Pastor Iren Emmanuel (PIE) Cup once again showcased the growing passion for football within the Celebration Church International community, with players and fans enjoying an exciting and memorable festival of football.
