Ozalla Football Academy, Onitsha, defied all intrigues that overshadowed the concluded 2025 Nationwide League One, Awka Center playoffs to seal a place in the promotion Playoff for the second tier league, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

OISA were favoured for the sole ticket with referees for their match changed at will just at their request. It was the case in their match against Ikukuoma FC and against Ozalla. Questions began to fly, why are referees changed only in OISA matches?

But Ozalla remained calm, convinced that the will of God will always prevail. And indeed, it did.

OISA went in front midway into the first stanza with Akpam Abraham's exquisite strike from close range proving too much for Ozalla shot-stopper, Chikeme Asadu.

Ozalla were too wasteful in the first period, throwing away a plethora of chances as they were carved out as OISA went into the half time break on the driving seat.

After Coach Uche Onuora's half time pep talk, Ozalla boys came out smoking, charging like injured bulls.

Ozalla came came back to level terms midway into the second half when Brown Alagboso went down near the area under an OISA defender's harsh challenge.

Chimeric Ogili stepped forward, curling a delicate left-footed free kick into the bottom corner. 1-1. And OISA could not believe it.

From then, Ozalla took total control, dictating the pace and spectators began to count on their fingers the moment the decider would come.

Ifeanyi 'Messi' Nwune sliced home the eventual match winner on the dot of 80 minutes. Ozalla came close to increasing their advantage in the added time but a badly positioned Henry Obidike saw a teasing ball hit his shin and into the OISA goalkeeper's hands.

After the five minutes additional time, the referee, Ebi Areweremi, sounded his final score with Ozalla going through on 2-1 advantage.

Ikenna Osueke, Proprietor and sole financier of Ozalla FA, was full of gratitude to God for the win.

"I'm happy. I give glory to God. It shows that what God has decreed, no one can alter. 

"We've really worked hard for the game. No matter the intrigues, we're determined to play and today, God has crowned our efforts.

"We're looking forward to the promotion games slated for Asaba, Delta State', Ikenna Osueke said.