By joshua AACMO Football Tournament Final: Lugbe Deanery set to tackle Wuse on Saturday, August 1
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is buzzing with anticipation as Lugbe Deanery prepares to take on Wuse Deanery in the grand finale of the Abuja Archdiocesan Catholic Men Organisation (AACMO) Soccer Championship.
The highly anticipated showdown will take place this Saturday, August 1, 2026. It marks the climax of a competitive tournament organized to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Catholic Men Organisation (CMO) in Nigeria.
The tournament kicked off on June 27, 2026, at the Papal Ground in Kubwa, featuring selected squads representing the eight distinct deaneries within the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja. Both finalists survived grueling campaigns to earn their spots in the final.
Lugbe Deanery booked their place in the final stages following a phenomenal quarter-final victory over a tough Kubwa Deanery side. The Lugbe team subsequently advanced past Karu Deanery in the semi-finals to secure their final berth.
Wuse Deanery, on the other hand, displayed tactical discipline to defeat Bwari Deanery in their semi-final fixture, setting up a blockbuster clash between two of the archdiocese’s strongest footballing sides.
The Lugbe squad enters the final with high momentum, drawing heavily from the pool of talents discovered during their internal 11-week Lugbe Deanery Football Tournament, which concluded on July 26 with St. Linus, Chika/Aleita emerging as champions.
Parishioners, diocesan clergy, and soccer enthusiasts from across Abuja are expected to turn out en masse to witness who will be crowned the ultimate archdiocesan champions.
In a statement released by the Media and Publicity Committee of the Lugbe Deanery CMO, the Chairman of the Sports Committee, Brother Sunday Otori, JP, urged the deanery players to exhibit a great deal of team spirit, while expressing confidence that the team will emerge triumphant in the final encounter of the AACMO football tournament.
Brother Otori was quoted as saying: “As we prepare to face Wuse Deanery in the AACMO Football Tournament Final on Saturday, 1st August 2026, I want to sincerely appreciate every one of you for the commitment, discipline, sacrifice and determination that have brought us this far.
“We started this journey as a team, and today, we stand proudly in the final. This achievement is a testament to your hard work, teamwork and belief in one another. You have done remarkably well, and I am proud of every member of this team.
“We have assembled a strong and determined team. We have the quality, we have the experience, we have the preparation, and we have the support of the entire Lugbe Deanery behind us.
“Go onto that field with confidence, play as one team, fight for every ball, respect our opponents, and give your very best from the first whistle to the last.”
“We have come this far, let us finish the job. Nothing but victory on Saturday.”
The Lugbe Deanery CMO President, Chef Felix Okeke said: “The team has shown tremendous resilience coming this far. I pray that with this determination the team will make our Deanery proud. I also once again thank the Committee that has prepared this great team. We shall surely celebrate the victory. Congratulations to the indomitable Lugbe Deanery Football Team.”
The Head Coach of the Lugbe Deanery Team, Amb. Okocha Dixie, a CAF – licensed coach since the 1979 Oluyole Sports Festival, said: “I have sized up all the teams and with my experience I can only but thank God for surviving all the onslaught to get to this stage. The hard nuts have been cracked. What we have now is easy to swallow. Kubwa, my greatest nightmare is out, and so Saturday is looking good for us.
“As for my players, they are well aware of what is expected of them. I trust their resilience and fighting spirit. Therefore,I have no doubt about our victory on Saturday. The AACMO Football Tournament Trophy is ours to lift.”
The Lugbe Deanery team captain, Brother Anselm Okoro, on his part, remarked: “I give all glory to God for bringing us this far. Our victory over the strong Kubwa Deanery team at the quarter finals and the Karu Deanery in the semi-finals is a testament to the resilience, discipline, determination, and unity of my team, the Lugbe Deanery team.
“We have prepared very well for the final because we understand that Wuse Deanery is a formidable side. Their victory over Bwari Deanery in the semi-finals shows they deserve to be in the final. We respect them, but we are not intimidated by any team. We are confident in our preparation and believe that, by God’s grace, we will give our very best on the field.
“Our expectation is simple — to emerge as champions of the Abuja Archdiocesan CMO (AACMO) Football Tournament. We know it won’t be an easy match, but we have faith in God, confidence in our team, and the determination to fight until the final whistle. By God’s grace, we believe the trophy will come to Lugbe Deanery.”