Fortune FA win Nathaniel Idowu U-16 league

Fortune FA emerged champions of the 2026 Nathaniel Idowu Under-16 Football League after beating Ajegunle United SC 4–3 on penalties in Saturday’s Super Four final at the New Maracana Sports Complex, Tolu, Ajegunle.

The final brought the curtain down on an exciting season of youth football, featuring the four best-performing teams from the nine-week regular league campaign: Ajegunle United SC, Fortune FA, Young Eleven FA and SC Heritage.

The Super Four provided a platform for the young footballers to showcase their talents and competitive spirit as they battled for the ultimate prize.

In the third-place match, Young Eleven FA defeated SC Heritage 8–7 on penalties after both teams played out a 1–1 draw in regulation time. Yekeen Adetoro gave SC Heritage the lead in the 45th minute before Ahmed Akeem equalised for Young Eleven FA in the 60th minute.

The event attracted several personalities from the sports and public sectors, including Comrade Austin Popo of the Nigeria Players Union, Adedotun Coker, Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, Hon. Tajudeen Ajide, immediate past Executive Chairman of Surulere Local Government Area, and former Super Eagles defender Tajudeen Dish.

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Speaking at the event, Popo applauded Chief Yemi Idowu for sustaining the legacy of his late father, Chief Nathaniel Idowu.

He also commended the organisers for keeping alive the vision of the late sports philanthropist through sustained investment in grassroots sports development.

Popo further praised the talents displayed by the young footballers and urged them to remain focused, disciplined and committed to their football ambitions.

Similarly, Ajide expressed satisfaction with the quality of football showcased throughout the competition, urging the players to take their education seriously and maintain a balance between their academic pursuits and sporting ambitions.

The league offered a total prize purse of N2.05m to the top five teams, with champions Fortune FA receiving N1m, runners-up Ajegunle United SC earning N500,000, third-placed Young Eleven FA taking home N300,000, SC Heritage receiving N150,000 for finishing fourth, while the fifth-placed team got N100,000.