The 2024 edition of the annual Ifeanyi Ekwueme Tico/Select Pre-Season Tournament will for long live in the minds of football freaks following the incredible fashion the football showpiece will climax at the Pa Ngele Stadium, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

This is against the back drop of the shocking results the tournament had churned out right from the off, especially with pre-tournament outsiders paying no respect to the pre-tournament big guns and title favourites, represented by the NPFL teams, Enyimba and Abia Warriors.

This development came to a fitting climax Thursday during the semi final games when the minnows, Great Archivers from Enugu and Apex Krane of Asaba shocked the two NPFL sides, Abia Warriors and Enyimba to set up an all 'minnows final' on Friday, 30 August, 2024.

In the first semi final fixture on Thursday, Great Archievers FC, against all odds, saw off title holders, Abia Warriors 1-0 to seal their place in the final in their first participation in the tournament.

Great Archivers left it late, with a solitary strike in the 90th minute proving rewarding enough to edge past the NPFL side and handing them a sumptuous final ticket.

The giant killers, Great Achievers FC who ply their trade in the Nationwide League One played a resilient style of football, frustrating the hugely experienced 2024 President Federation Cup finalists before capitalizing on a defensive mix-up to nick the only goal of the thrilling contest.

Earlier in the first semi final, Enyimba FC and Apex Krane FC, refused to be separated during the regulation time as Apex Krane demonstrated amazing superiority in the gamble of lottery of penalty kicks with a 3 -1 triumph after the Elephant boys failed to convert their first three kicks.

Apex Krane will meet Great Achievers on Friday by 3pm for the brand new trophy as both sides are expected to appear in a brand new set of SELECT branded Jerseys.

Among other fun-fare billed for the afternoon to bring the week-long tournament to a fitting climax, is the presentation of individual awards such as Most Valuable Player, MVP, Best Goalkeeper and Highest Goal Scorer of the tournament among others.

Apex Crane were Champions of the 4th edition of the tournament while Abia Warriors won the 5th edition of the tournament.PA}