Kojo Motors Wins 2025 Toyota Nigeria lnter-dealer Soccer Trophy

Bennett Oghifo

Kojo Motors Limited has emerged the winner of the Toyota Nigeria Limited football competition organised for Toyota vehicle dealers in the country.

Kojo Motors beat Elizade Nigeria Limited by 1- 0 at the final game played at the Meadow Football pitch in Lekki, Lagos last Saturday.

This is the first time that Kojo Motors Limited will be winning the coveted trophy in the company’s more than two decades as a flourishing Toyota dealer in Nigeria. To get to the finals, Kojo Motors Limited edged out R.T. Briscoe Plc’s team while Elizade Nigeria defeated Germaine’s team. 

The first place winner, Kojo Motors received N3 million, second position team, Elizade Nigeria went home with N2 million, while the third place winner received N1.5 million. 

The trophy was handed over to

the fast-expanding and frontline Toyota dealer in Nigeria by the Chairman of Toyota Nigeria Limited Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, assisted by the Managing Director Kunle Ade-Ojo.

Handing over the Trophy to the team, in the presence of visibly excited Ikenna Oguegbu, founder/chairman of Kojo Motors Limited, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo congratulated the team for their victory while calling on other teams to work hard in subsequent editions of the competition.

In his own remarks, Kunle Ade-Ojo, described the annual event as a corporate strategy put in by the Toyota brand franchisee  to encourage inter-dealer bonding among the local distributors, as well as its corporate and fleet buyers.

The TNL managing director commended the fighting spirit and resilience among all the teams that participated in the competition, saying that in any competition, there will always be losers and winners.

On how Kojo Motors got to the final of the competition and eventually lifted the Toyota Cup, Stephen Ehiedu, team manager of Kojo Motors, said victory was achieved through hard work and discipline of the players throughout the period the competition lasted.

“Management of Kojo Motors ensured that all cash allowances  were paid and other necessary incentives made available during the training and match days.

Describing the road to getting to the final of the competition

as very tough, the team manager disclosed that during the group stage, Kojo won the first two matches by beating Metropolitan Motors and Germaine Motors 7-0 and 1-0, respectively, lost to Omoregie Motors, but still topped group B. 

“Despite injury concerns on the bumpy travel to the hard earned victory, our players fought courageously to get to the semi finals, beating R. T. Briscoe Plc on penalty shootouts after the game ended 1-1.

Responding on chances of  Kojo Motors winning the Toyota Cup, Stephen Ehiedu described all the participating teams as very strong. 

“However, the squad we selected this time gave us the convincing assurance, that it’s doable. When you watch the game, you’ll have no doubt that they are capable of lifting the trophy.”

Ehiedu regretted that during the last competition in 2019 before it was suspended as a result of the pandemic, Kojo Motors team lost the third placed.

“Having qualified for the semi finals during that period, I was optimistic of getting to the finals, but something happened. Our captain at that time Adeyemi Agbomabinwon was injured and that was the end.”

He further said the excitement that greeted the winning of the trophy by Kojo Motors Trophy was overwhelming. I can’t even explain the level of excitement. My chairman was so happy, his wife and all Kojo staff, friends and families were not left out.”

Ehiedu said other areas of improvement are that the LOC need to introduce the award to the most valuable player (MVP) after every match played, as well as changing the time of the game from the rainy season to dry season.

He also suggested that, if possible, the venue can be changed to allow spectators, supporters club and other activities that will make the game fun.