By Ikenna Nwokedi 

Mmuo Na Eje Ije FC has emerged as the Champions of the Free Age Category of the 14th edition of the 2024 Linken Football Tournament by beating last year's finalist, Golden Eaglets FC by a lone goal.

The finals which was played on Sunday, 8th December 2024 at the FC IfeanyiUbah International Stadium Ozubulu-Nnewi saw Valentine Odinaka's solitary strike in the 25th minute ensuring his side emerge Champions with the trophy and a prize of N150,000 while Golden Eaglets FC settled for a second prize of N100,000.

The competition which is being bankrolled by Chief Kenneth Maduakor, Founder and CEO of KM Lubricants and Linken Table Water also saw GP World FA finishing third with a prize money of N70,000 after seeing off Ballers FC in the third and fourth placed playoffs.

The Best Player of the Free Age Category went to Tochukwu Nwankwo of Golden Eaglets with a cash prize of N10,000; Odinaka of GP World FA was the highest goal scorer and got a cash award of N10,000 while the sponsor also rewarded the centre referee, Peace Ogbonna for being the best match official for the tournament with a prize of N50,000.

In other categories, No Skin Pain FA earlier on obliterated All Stars FA 5-1 in the U-13 category to take home the trophy and the star prize of N50,000, the latter got N30,000 for their exploits while Sam Ben FC who finished third smiled home with the sum of N20,000. 

For the U-15 category, Ogbaru All Stars FC saw off Nnewi Youths FA in the grand finale to emerge Champions with the trophy and winners prize of N70,000, Nnewi Youths FA went home with the sum of N50,000 while Merit FC who came third got N30,000.

Reacting after the match, the sponsor, Chief Maduakor thanked God for a hitch free and successful competition without injuries, he also eulogized the competition's organizing committee led by Mr. Jonathan Igwe popularly known as 'JJ' for a well planned competition while also congratulating the winners for emerging champions.

Chief Maduakor concluded by re-emphasizing that the Linken Football Tournament has come to stay while promising that the 2025 edition will be much more bigger with enhanced packages for all the participants. Maduakor also urged all football fans to ensure they return back to the same venue come Sunday, 15th December 2024 for the grand finale of Budweiser/KM Lubricants Veterans' Championship.

Highpoints of the occasion was decoration of the winning teams with their prize monies and trophies as well as the individual award winners.