Defending champions Delta Allstars International suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Express Allstars, while United Friends edged Ekpan Allstars 3-2 in a thrilling Round of 16 encounter as the 2026 Ofugara Peace and Unity Cup continued at the Okotogbo Primary School Football Pitch, Effurun, over the weekend.
The knockout fixtures, played on Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25, produced goals, drama and impressive performances, with several teams booking their places in the quarter-finals of the fourth edition of the competition.
Express Allstars delivered the biggest statement of Saturday’s fixtures, dismantling defending champions Delta Allstars International 4-1 to send the title holders crashing out of the competition. The emphatic victory marked a significant upset, as Express Allstars combined attacking efficiency with clinical finishing to end the champions’ quest to retain their crown.
Ijaw Ex-Professionals also produced an assured display, recording a convincing 3-0 victory over Men2Boyz FC. Their commanding performance ensured safe passage into the next round, with a solid defensive showing complementing their effectiveness in front of goal.
Ubeji Allstars and Delta Allstars Veterans played out a 1-1 draw in regulation time before Ubeji triumphed 5-3 in the penalty shootout to advance. The closely fought encounter was decided from the spot after neither side could find a winner during normal time.
Uvw ie Ex-Players completed Saturday’s programme with a 3-1 victory over Uvwie Allstars, producing a decisive performance to progress to the quarter-finals.
Sunday’s matches maintained the competitive tempo, with Planners Allstars defeating Daudu United 2-0, while Ex-Polavis edged Ex-Mowoe Babes 2-1 to secure their places in the last eight.
Cornerlux Allstars recorded a comfortable 2-0 win over Delta Strikers Allstars, keeping a clean sheet and demonstrating defensive discipline to eliminate their opponents.
United Friends and Ekpan Allstars provided one of Sunday’s most entertaining encounters, with United Friends eventually prevailing 3-2 in a five-goal thriller. Ekpan Allstars battled gamely but had to contend with numerical disadvantage after one of their players was shown a red card, leaving them with 10 men for the remainder of the match.
Despite being reduced to 10 players, Ekpan Allstars continued to compete in the contest, but United Friends capitalised on the opportunity to secure victory and progress to the quarter-finals.
The Round of 16 results have heightened anticipation ahead of the quarter-finals, with the elimination of the defending champions underlining the unpredictable nature of knockout football. The remaining teams will now turn their attention to the next stage, where the margin for error becomes even smaller in the race for the championship.
The 2026 Ofugara Peace and Unity Cup features 32 veteran all-stars clubs from Delta State’s three senatorial districts. Organised under the Ofugara Give Back Initiative, the competition promotes peace, unity, friendship and community development through football while providing veteran players with a platform to showcase their enduring passion for the game.
The tournament is supported by Tantita Security Services, Manroy Global Services, Amity Global Farms Services and OceanWave Group.