By Our Correspondent Abuja
Under the fading December sun at the Area 10 Old Parade Ground, grassroots football delivered a reminder of its raw power: tension without goals, drama without compromise, and victory decided only by nerve.
When the final whistle blew after 90 goalless minutes, Medical Strikers FC of Gwagwalada and Chidex FC of Bwari were still locked in a dead heat.
What followed was a penalty shootout that froze the crowd, split loyalties across the stands, and crowned a new champion of Abuja’s community game.
Medical Strikers emerged victorious 5–4 on penalties, clinching the inaugural Montage 99.7FM Community Football Tournament title and walking away with ₦1 million in prize money and the glittering winners’ trophy.
The final, played on Saturday, December 13, 2025, was a test of patience and resilience. Chances came and went. Defences stood firm. Goalkeepers rose to the moment. For long stretches, it felt like a single mistake would decide everything yet none came.
Hundreds of fans packed the Old Parade Ground in Garki, turning the venue into a cauldron of chants, whistles and raw emotion. Each penalty kick in the shootout carried the weight of weeks of competition and in the end, Medical Strikers held their nerve.
For their triumph, the champions claimed ₦1,000,000, while runners-up Chidex FC earned ₦700,000 and silver medals after a tournament run that showcased discipline and attacking flair.
The road to the final had been anything but easy. Chidex FC powered past Gum FC of AMAC with a convincing 3–1 semi-final victory, while Medical Strikers booked their place with a solid 2–0 win over ECN FC at the Kwali centre.
Earlier on final day, ECN FC redeemed themselves by defeating Gum FC to secure third place, collecting bronze medals and ₦400,000 in prize money.
The 2025 Montage Community Football Tournament featured 24 teams drawn from all six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory, unfolding over two intense weeks of grassroots competition.
From local pitches to zonal showdowns, the tournament built momentum toward a finale that lived up to its promise.
Tournament coordinator Raphael Ekpang described the competition as a statement on the future of community sports in Abuja.
“Grassroots competition is the way forward,” Ekpang said. “Over the past three weeks, we brought people together moving from area councils to zonal levels, and now to this final. Gwagwalada versus Bwari. Kwali versus AMAC. Beyond football, we created unity, networking and friendship.”
While Medical Strikers lifted the trophy, individual excellence also shone through. Miracle Ike of Chidex FC was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament, rewarded for his consistency and influence throughout the competition.
For the champions, Ibrahim Alhassan finished as top scorer, netting four goals and underlining the attacking edge that carried Medical Strikers to the title.
As the dust settled at Area 10, the message was clear: community football in Abuja is alive, competitive and ready for bigger platforms.
For Medical Strikers FC, the night ended with medals, money and history. For the rest, it ended with belief that the next breakthrough could start on the same grassroots pitch.
