Telecom Games: MTN Beats Airtel to Set up Final with IHS

LM Ericsson were already out of the finals but the Telecom equipment vendors pulled a spectacular 1-1 draw with tournament’s fairy tale team, IHS in one of the last games of the qualifying rounds on a day MTN beat off the challenge from Airtel 2-1 to claim their five out of five finals place in the Nigeria Telecommunications Games.

The stage was thus set for a first ever final that will not feature Etisalat, the defending champions and two-time winners, a prestige they share with only MTN. Whichever way the result goes on Sunday at the Onikan Waterfront, history will be made as either MTN will win an unprecedented third trophy or IHS will join the league of football title winners.

The clash between Ericsson and IHS was more of a formality as both sides have already secured their spot in the third place playoff and the finals while irrespective of the outcome of the match.

It however did not stop the match from being tense and thrilling as both teams played for pride.

Adeoye Saheed scored first for LM Ericsson with a fine lobbed ball from near the right corner area. This woke IHS as they rang the changes and promptly equalized through Sunday Okpara. Both goals were scored in the second half. It was the only fixture IHS didn’t win in the four group games.

But the match of the day and indeed of the tournament was the pairing between MTN and Airtel. Both teams were fighting for a place in the finals and what a fight to finish it was. Airtel needed an outright victory while MTN needed just a point to scale through.

The first half was a very physical encounter with players going at it with all their strength, but the Referee was in full control and the game soon calmed down with the first half ending with no goals scored.