If there’s anything that brings students together in any school, sports has to be among the top five.
At the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, the NIJ Provost Cup is a big deal. Every session, students put aside their cameras, lapel mics, and notebooks to battle it out on the field.
But this year’s edition is a bit of a paradox. While it’s uniting students, it’s also fueling heated debates across departments and classes: Who will take home the trophy in 2025?
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT NIJ PROVOST CUP
The football competition is organised by the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) every academic session.
It involves teams from all levels, including ND1, ND2, HND1, HND2, PGD, and part-time students. However, instead of separate teams, part-time students form a single squad representing all levels.
Matches are played in two rounds—a first leg in the first semester and a second leg in the second semester. All matches take place on the school’s pitch in Ogba (except last season’s grand finale, which had to be played at an external stadium due to the flood on the school’s pitch)
Due to the field’s orientation, the tournament is played eight-aside, with each game lasting 60 minutes.
The top four teams on the table then battle it in the knockout stage, leading up to the grand finale.
The final match is always scheduled during Students’ Week, making it the highlight of Sports Day and adding to the excitement of the week-long celebration.
KEY STATS SO FAR
At the time of writing, the first leg is officially wrapped up, with 15 matches played—the last one on Friday, February 14.
Currently, HND1 is running the show, sitting comfortably at the top of the table, well ahead of Part-time (not shocking) and ND2. Meanwhile, HND2 is hanging by a thread, teetering on the edge of qualification.
So far, 54 goals have hit the back of the net, with ND1’s PayDay leading the race for the Golden Boot with 8 goals. Hot on his heels are Mubarak from Partime and David from ND2 with 5 and 4 goals respectively.
But one won’t get too comfortable with these rankings—things are far from settled. The second leg next semester will shake things up, and the big question is: Will these top four teams hold their ground and secure a spot in the finals?
Looking back, this season already reminds us of last year’s intense final battle between the previous HND2 and Part-time. The Part-time squad has a solid reputation in this tournament, and their current second-place position proves they’re still a force to reckon with.
But football is unpredictable. Anything can happen, and how it plays out depends entirely on how each team rises to the challenge.
TEAM-BY-TEAM ANALYSIS
Looking at the tournament so far, we can clearly spot three types of teams—the strong contenders, the dark horses, and the underperformers.
The Strong Contenders
Topping the table, HND1 has made a strong case for themselves. Their biggest advantage? Numbers. Unlike some teams struggling with squad depth, HND1 has enough players to make full substitutions at halftime without losing strength.
But beyond numbers, experience plays a role. While they are technically freshers, several players are returning students familiar with the pitch and each other’s gameplay. Their 3-1-3 formation, anchored by a solid midfield, has been working well for them. This mirrors last year’s HND1 (now HND2) edge in their dominant season.
However, one interesting thing about this team is that while they consistently win, they also have unexpected underperformances—like their 1-1 draw with ND2. That’s a double-edged sword, especially heading into the knockout stage, where surprises can be costly.
If HND1 is all about teamwork, Part-time has a standout player—Mubarak, their star performer. Their 4-1 thrashing of PGD showed just how ruthless they can be when paired with weaker opposition. It would be a mistake to underestimate them, and given their history, they are a strong bet for the finals.
But, as always, the knockout stage is the real test. Anything can happen.
And as we’ve seen with many teams who have a single “star” player, they tend to rely heavily on the performance of that key squad member. This seem to be the style of the part-time often which could put them in an ugly situation if not checked.
The Dark Horses
The main dark horse has to be the HND2 team because they are still unpredictable.
On one hand, they’ve had a disappointing run so far—one win, three losses, and a draw. On the other hand, their defence is solid, and they rarely concede goals. Their biggest problem has to be converting chances on the pitch into goals. With no “fan-favourite” strikers, it’s unlikely any of their players will clinch the Golden Boot.
Some might argue that organizing the tournament has affected their performance, but history shows that’s not a valid excuse.
“Being the organizer of the Provost Cup and playing in the tournament doesn’t seem to be affecting our team’s performance, which is great,” NIJ Students’ Sports Director, Honorable Famoroti, told NIJInsight. “Some people are skeptical, thinking that as the organizer, I might favor my own team or bend the rules to ensure our victory,” he revealed.
On a lighter note, one can argue that the team has one of the most reverberating cheerleaders in the Cup’s history and an intimidating sportswear appearance.
From the last five games, their strongest weapon has to be deadly free kicks—like the one that gave them an early lead in their first match against ND1, which ended in a 2-1 win.
However, free kicks alone won’t be enough. If HND2 wants a shot at the finals, their strikers must step up.
Sitting third on the table, ND2 has a habit of challenging top teams while comfortably beating weaker ones. With aggressive strikers like David and Akin, they have a good chance of securing a knockout spot.
But making the finals? That’s another story. With Part-time and HND1 standing in their way, their chances are slim. There’s also the looming challenge of HND2, which has historically beaten them in past seasons—despite ND2’s recent 2-1 victory over them.
Still, one thing is clear: ND2 has improved significantly. Whether that improvement is enough to carry them to the finals remains to be seen.
The Promising Underperformers
PGD kicked off the tournament in the worst way possible—with back-to-back 4-0 losses to HND1 and Part-time, followed by a 3-0 defeat to ND2.
But then, something unexpected happened. Their surprising draw against HND2 gave them a confidence boost, which may explain their 4-1 victory over ND1 in their final first-leg match.
Historically, PGD hasn’t been a strong force in this tournament, and the reasons are clear—limited squad depth and older, less physically fit players. Their chances of making the knockout stage are very slim. However, if they manage to keep up the momentum, they could climb to 5th place instead of ending up at the very bottom as usual.
It’s tempting to write off ND1 as overrated, but there’s no denying their potential.
With sharp attackers like PayDay and playmakers like AbeyCity, they showed what they were capable of when they set a tournament record—scoring four goals within 30 minutes against ND2. But that was their only win.
The rest of their campaign has been rough—four losses and eight goals conceded. Their attack is lethal, but their defence is shaky, and that imbalance has cost them dearly.
“Only one player cannot do all the work,” says Etim Atah, Coach of NIJ’s official football team, Pen Pushers, after one of the games. “As a team, just put the ball on the ground and play with one another. You’ll see how they {the opponent} will get tired easily.”
Unless the ND1 team tightens up their defense and finds consistency, this season may not hold much for them. However, if they take this time to refine their strategy and adapt to the pitch, the 2026 season could be their chance to shine.
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR
NIJ is a mass communication institution—not a Champions League lineup. You won’t find Messi or Ronaldo here, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t stars shining on the pitch.
Across different teams, a few players have stood out in goal-scoring, assists, defence, dribbling skills, and leadership.
Every team has that one player who makes defenders nervous. For this tournament, it’s Payday from ND1, David from ND2, and Part-time duo—David and Ghost. These guys are the ones you want on your side when chasing a goal and the ones defenders would rather avoid. Their teams rely on them more than kids love ice cream.
PayDay freekick converted into a goal in the ND1 vs ND2 Match. Video credit: Olaadura Adesunboye
When it comes to setting up goals, Part-time’s Mubarak has been a revelation. Known for his powerful shots, in addition to scoring goals, he’s also proven to be an excellent opportunity creator from the midfield. He’s joined by ND1’s AbeyCity and HND1’s Samuel Craig, who have consistently delivered crucial assists.
If you’re trying to score against HND2, you’ll have to get past Olaadura and Israel—easily the toughest defenders this season. Breaking through their defence has been a rare achievement for any team. Right behind them is Niyi from Part-time, another rock-solid defender who has frustrated opposition attackers.
While captains naturally lead their teams, ND2’s goalkeeper, Kelechi, has stood out for his vocal coordination from the back. His ability to organize and keep his team in check is hard to ignore. But in the heat of a match, every captain steps up when the pressure is on.
WHAT ARE THE FANS SAYING?
As you’d expect in any tension-filled competition, fans’ lips are not sealed.
It’s almost a tradition—every year, the organizing team, HND2, faces antagonism from most students. Why? simply because they organize the tournament as members of the SRC.
But does that automatically mean they’re biased? Not necessarily. This pattern has repeated itself with past sets, and while skepticism is expected, it doesn’t always translate to corruption.
The social director of HND1, Frank Chinedu, told NIJIsight, “From the beginning, it seemed HND2 were biased and wanted to turn the tables in thier favor. But whilst they tried, their gameplay weren’t matching up. Now they are no more among the top 3, they tend to have reduced their manipulations.”
“From the matches I’ve watched, I think the ND2 students have a strong team this year,” Oguntunase Oluwadamilola from ND2 said.
“I strongly believe the HND1 will win. They’ve not lost any matches yet,“ Godwin Amaechi, an ND2 student, commented.
At the end of the day, student opinions tend to follow an expected trend—support whoever is leading and laugh at whoever is struggling at the bottom. It’s all part of the tournament’s drama, and as the season progresses, the narrative might shift again.
FINAL TAKE: WHO IS LIKELY TO WIN?
Football is unpredictable; dark horses like HND2 and ND2 could shake things up. HND2, though struggling offensively, has a solid defense and a history of performing well in high-stakes games.
If they can improve their goal-scoring in the next five games, they might just make the finals. ND2, on the other hand, has shown they can take on strong opponents and win against weaker teams, but their inconsistency could cost them.
Ultimately, HND1 and Part-time remain the safest bets for the trophy, but as always in football, anything can happen.
