A Valiant display from the Brave Army saw them complete a remarkable turnaround to see off Gbagada en route to a historic day for the club in the TCC Cup.
In a highly competitive and keenly contested final, Valiant shocked their most illustrious opponents Gbagada FC at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena at the weekend.
Gbagada were the favourites for the TCC Cup title and it was no surprise that the Blue Eagles looked home and dry after the opening half of the game.
A strong start from the Eagles saw them dominate the first half and looked comfortable heading into the break with a 2-0 lead.
Issa Jamiu opened the scoring with a close-range header before Segun Alfred doubled the advantage with an excellent strike from 25 yards.
But Valiant won’t go down without a fight and came out blazing hot in the second 45 minutes.
A brilliant team move early on saw them half the deficit before getting the all-important equaliser 14 minutes from time.
They went on to take the final 6-5 on penalty, a shock result that their manager revealed was a result of a solid defensive performance from the Catenaccio playbook.
)
15:57 - 07.03.2023
FEDERATION CUP Beyond Limits dedicate historic FA Cup win to bereaved academy player
The Remo academy player lost his father on Tuesday morning before linking up with his teammates for the important FA Cup clash against their senior team.
What I told my Valiant players
Speaking to Pulse Sports Nigeria, the expectedly excited coach of the team, Owolabi Mustapha, revealed what he told his players at the break and how a solid defensive performance propelled his side to a historic win.
)
“I let them know that this TCC cup final is played once a year and they just need to go out there and improve on themselves,” Mustapha said.
“If not, they will need to wait for another probably 11 months or 12 months before they can get that kind of chance.”
“So, I let them understand what the aim of Cup is - you need to develop and the part of development is improvement and if you improve, with time you develop. So I let them know in the second half of the game, they need to change the rhythm of the game.
They need to start playing the way people know he has been playing, leaving anxiety out of it and they will get the best out of them.”
23:05 - 08.04.2023
Remo Stars continue Showcase run, sweep TCC awards
Remo Stars Academy Beyond Limits seem to have rediscovered themselves in the showcase category at the Generation Adidas Cup while sweeping awards at home in the TCC.
On what the players did well
Speaking further, the young coach praised his youth side for their defensive display which he attributed to Catenaccio.
)
20:42 - 08.04.2023
Valiant defeat Gbagada FC to emerge TCC Cup 23 champions
The 2023 TCC Cup came to a perfect climax following a four-goal thriller between finalists Gbagada FC and Valiant FC.
“You know, one thing that they did right in the second half compared to the first.was that they kept possession of the ball," he added.
"Then, I saw some Catenaccio in the game. Catenaccio is a strong defensive system. They (his boys) were tactically aggressive and precise in their play.”
Related content
23:05 - 08.04.2023
Remo Stars continue Showcase run, sweep TCC awards
Remo Stars Academy Beyond Limits seem to have rediscovered themselves in the showcase category at the Generation Adidas Cup while sweeping awards at home in the TCC.
20:42 - 08.04.2023
Valiant defeat Gbagada FC to emerge TCC Cup 23 champions
The 2023 TCC Cup came to a perfect climax following a four-goal thriller between finalists Gbagada FC and Valiant FC.
15:57 - 07.03.2023
FEDERATION CUP Beyond Limits dedicate historic FA Cup win to bereaved academy player
The Remo academy player lost his father on Tuesday morning before linking up with his teammates for the important FA Cup clash against their senior team.
)
23:30 - 19.02.2023
GRASSROOTS TCC League ends in a goal-fest as Beyond Limits and Sporting Lagos dazzle
14 goals were scored in five matches on the final day of the 2023 Creative Championship season.
)
22:45 - 19.02.2023
GRASSROOTS 4-star Beyond Limits whitewash Atlantic Business to lift TCC on a high
No Limits academy put on a show at home in Ikenne on the season's final day.
)
09:55 - 16.02.2023
GRASSROOTS Beyond Limits in seventh heaven after thrashing Iganmu Tigers
The No Limits boys have scored an average of five goals per game in their last three matches to affirm their status as king of goals
)
22:36 - 12.02.2023
GRASSROOTS Remo Stars' Beyond Limits crowned TCC champions for the third time in a row
The No Limits boys from Ikenne have proven to be beyond others at their level
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)