Medical Strikers FC of Gwagwalada have been crowned the inaugural champions of the Montage 99.7FM Community Football Tournament, following a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Chidex FC of Bwari.
The fiercely contested final took place on Saturday, 13th December 2025, at the Area 10 Old Parade Ground’s football pitch in Garki, Abuja. A tense and captivating 90 minutes of regular time saw both teams battle to a goalless draw, unable to break the deadlock despite numerous spirited attacks.
Hundreds of passionate fans, alongside distinguished invited guests, packed the stands, creating an electric atmosphere as they witnessed a truly nail-biting encounter. Medical Strikers FC’s triumph not only secured them the prestigious title but also a substantial cash prize of one million naira (N1,000,000.00) and a magnificent winner’s trophy.
Runners-up Chidex FC received a commendable seven hundred thousand naira (N700,000.00) and silver medals for their impressive performance throughout the competition.
The journey to the final saw Chidex FC overcome Gum FC of AMAC with a decisive 3-1 victory in one of the semi-final clashes. Medical Strikers FC, meanwhile, secured their spot in the showpiece event by defeating ECN FC 2-0 at the Kwali centre.
The 2025 Montage Community Football Tournament, which kicked off two weeks prior, featured a total of 24 teams representing all six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory, showcasing the depth of local football talent.
Earlier in the day, the third-place play-off match saw ECN FC of Kwali defeat Gum FC of AMAC to claim the bronze medal and a cash prize of N400,000.00, rounding off a memorable tournament.
Mr. Raphael Ekpang, the tournament’s coordinator, hailed the event as a resounding success, affirming that its primary goal of uniting the Abuja community at a grassroots level had been achieved.
Ekpang elaborated: “Grassroots competition truly is the way forward for sport and community engagement. Over the past three weeks of the competition, we’ve successfully brought people together at the grassroots, fostering unity. We progressed from the area council to the zonal level, culminating in today’s final. We saw Gwagwalada face Bwari, and Kwali play AMAC in the third-place match. Ultimately, we succeeded in bringing people together for networking and friendship.”
Meanwhile, Miracle Ike of Chidex FC emerged as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, while Ibrahim Alhassan of Medical Strikers was the highest goal scorer with four goals to his credit.
