Abuko based side Late Njuga FC edged Magtab Warriors 1-0 to lift the Serekunda East Sports Development Organization (SESDO) Late OJ Jallow Super Cup Shield in a thrilling night final at the East Mini Stadium.
It was an attendance of more than five hundred people, with a jam-packed atmosphere setting the tone for a fiercely contested final. Both sides started brightly, but Magtab Warriors dominated much of the opening period and created the better chances.
In the 24th minute, Magtab striker Jalamang Samateh came close to breaking the deadlock, but his effort failed to find the back of the net. The missed opportunity prompted both teams to adopt a more cautious approach, with tactical football taking centre stage as the electric energy from the twelfth man, the fans, continued to rise. The first half ended goalless.
Coming into the second half, Late Njuga made changes to alter the rhythm of the game, introducing experienced captain Alpha Jatta. The substitutions paid off as Late Njuga gradually took control of much of the second period.
The second half proved more entertaining, with both teams creating promising goal-scoring opportunities. The decisive moment arrived in the 77th minute when substitute Mustapha Camara came off the bench and scored with his first touch, sparking wild celebrations among the Late Njuga supporters.
Magtab Warriors immediately pushed for an equaliser, but Late Njuga’s backline stood tall and firm, protecting their 1-0 advantage until the final whistle.
After the match, Late Njuga head coach Lamin Sanneh, popularly known as Mino, expressed his delight at securing the trophy.
“I am delighted winning the Super Cup Shield. We have been in the Nawettan for four years, so winning a knockout trophy and Super Cup Shield is going to be a good start for us ahead of the Nawettan season. Our fans, we can’t thank them because they’ve been with the team during difficult and cherished times, so this is the only way we can make them happy.”
Magtab Warriors coach Lamin Touray praised his players despite the defeat, admitting that luck was not on their side.
“I will thank my players for the effort they shown. Luck wasn’t on our side. If you can see, we dominated most of the match, but luck was not on our side. The defeat teaches me a lesson and I will go back to the drawing board and prepare for the Nawettan season.”
As champions, Late Njuga FC pocketed D30, 000 dalasis along with gold medals, while runners-up Magtab Warriors received silver medals and D25,000 dalasis.
Mustapha Camara was named Player of the Match after his decisive goal. He received D5,000 dalasis, two pairs of football boots, a power bank, AirPod and a smartwatch, with the prizes presented by Apple Gambia and Burr Fashion Plug respectively.
It could be recalled that Magtab Warriors were last year’s League Cup winners, while Late Njuga FC claimed the Knockout Cup. The final also made history as the first SESDO Super Cup final to be played under floodlights, adding another memorable milestone to the competition.
