Line-up for NSF Inter Club Challenge now complete

Line-up for NSF Inter Club Challenge now complete

...As Benin SC, Victory SC and Uyo SC get South-South tickets

The lineup of teams competing for honours at NSF Inter Club Challenge Abeokuta 2024 is now complete after the conclusion of the South-South Zonal Play-Off in Benin City, Edo State.

Benin SC, Victory SC of Warri and Uyo SC are the latest clubs to book their tickets for the Inter Club Challenge finals in Abeokuta, Ogun State, South West, Nigeria.

Host, Benin Scrabble Club was the first to punch a ticket for the grand finals from the South-South Zonal Play-Off with 10 wins and plus 1287 cumulative points, ahead of Victory SC of Warri.

Fresh from Accra, the Ghanaian capital with Team Nigeria at the 13th African Games Tega Okiemute was just too hot to handle and his dexterity on the board was awesome. Dropping only 2 out of 15 games with a plus 960 cumulative points.

The scrabblers from the land of promise, Uyo Scrabble Club with this gang of word warriors, Prestige Archibong, Ryan Jacob, Victor Owokere, Ekpo Emmanuel and Elvis James, garner 6 wins with a minus 1642 cumulative points.

Despite the good showing of the captain of Team Nigeria to the last West African Scrabble Championship, Ben Quickpen, Yenagoa SC could not secure a place in the finals in Abeokuta as it came first from the bottom with a minus 1035 cumulative points from 3 victories from 15 rounds of games.

It's imperative to state that under the captaincy of current African Scrabble Champion, Enoch Nwali, UNILAG Scrabble Club marched into the finals by dominating group A of the South West Play-off, recording three wins over Ibadan SC and BSP SC.

Pyramid SC captained by Dipo Akanbi a former NSF Green Jacket holder, navigated its way into the final phase of the NSF Inter Club Championship with victories over Surulere SC and Egbin SC in group B of the South West Play-Off.

Ikorodu SC, with 3 wins, was too strong for big guns from Lekki SC and Alausa SC that are making their maiden appearances in the NSF Inter Club Championship in group C.

Surulere SC sneaked into the NSF Inter Club Challenge finals as winners of the second chance Play off of the South West Zone. The team edged out Ibadan SC and Lekki Scrabble Club with, three wins and a plus 450 cumulative points.

Kaduna Central Scrabble Club became the first team to pick a ticket to the finals of the NSF Inter Club Championship after brushing aside South Side Scrabble Club to pick the Northwest slot last month.

Apex Scrabble Club of Abuja qualified for the Challenge finals from the North Central Zonal Play-Off.

Jos SC, fondly called Rock Solid Jammers, also booked a place in the National finals by beating Central Scrabble Club Abuja A, B and C teams. Winning 11 rounds, 54 games and a cumulative of plus 1211 points.

Anambra Scrabble Club, the sole entrance from the South East, is also through to the national NSF Inter Club Championship finals.

Warri Scrabble Club, also known as Victory SC, is the defending champion of the NSF Inter Club Championship.

28 clubs from 13 states and the Nigeria Police started the race to reach the finals of the NSF Inter Club Championship.

The NSF Inter Club Challenge is one of the four events lined up for this year’s NSF Scrabble Festival holding at the landmark, June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto-Abeokuta, Ogun State.