Kam Abioye hosted Barca kiddies at Ilorin on 5 October 2025 in an eagerly anticipated 8-a-side friendly that kicked off promptly at 12:00pm. The match unfolded as a pulsating encounter, ending in a dramatic 4-4 draw after 90 minutes plus five minutes of added time. Both sides displayed attacking verve and resilience, with Kam Abioye’s Itz Kabir standing out as the player of the match.
Kam Abioye lined up in a 2-2-3 formation, a shape designed to balance defensive solidity with attacking fluidity. Saleem took his place between the sticks as goalkeeper, shielded by central defenders Abdul Afeez and Sir Musa. The midfield duo of Itz Kabir and Prof Jafar were tasked with controlling the centre of the park and linking play. Up front, the trio of Hot Pepper on the left forward, Lil Messi leading the line as striker, and Prof Idris on the right forward were expected to spearhead the attack and create scoring opportunities. On the bench, Kam Abioye had six substitutes ready: Abdul Samad, Ronaldo Teslim, Al Hassan, Abbey Vini, Issa Papa, and Mendy Kasee.
The match burst into life in the 20th minute when Hot Pepper opened the scoring for Kam Abioye. Receiving a short pass from Lil Messi inside the box, Hot Pepper calmly slotted the ball home with his right foot from close range. However, the Barca kiddies responded swiftly, netting an equaliser just four minutes later to level the scores at 1-1. The visitors then took the lead in the 29th minute, turning the game on its head with a second goal.
Kam Abioye were quick to strike back. Just a minute after Barca kiddies’ second goal, Hot Pepper produced a spectacular volley from outside the box, expertly assisted by a long pass from Itz Kabir. His right-footed strike restored parity at 2-2. The momentum continued to swing in Kam Abioye’s favour as Itz Kabir himself got on the scoresheet in the 32nd minute, finishing off a move set up by Prof Idris. Five minutes later, Itz Kabir doubled his tally with a composed finish inside the box, following a short pass from Prof Jafar. By the 37th minute, Kam Abioye had surged into a 4-2 lead.
The first half concluded with Kam Abioye holding a two-goal advantage, but the contest was far from settled. At half-time, Kam Abioye made two tactical substitutions: Ronaldo Teslim replaced Sir Musa in defence, while Abdul Samad came on for Lil Messi up front. Shortly after the restart, in the 50th minute, Al Hassan replaced Hot Pepper on the left forward position.
Barca kiddies mounted a determined comeback in the second half, pulling a goal back in the 53rd minute to make it 4-3. Kam Abioye responded with another substitution at 55 minutes, Abbey Vini coming on for Abdul Afeez in central defence. However, the visitors struck again just two minutes later, equalising at 4-4 and setting up a tense finale.
The match grew increasingly heated as Abbey Vini received a yellow card for unsporting behaviour in the 56th minute. The intensity boiled over in the closing stages. At 72 minutes, Issa Papa replaced Al Hassan, but just five minutes later, two Kam Abioye players were shown red cards for violent conduct: Al Hassan and Hot Pepper. Alongside these dismissals, Ronaldo Teslim and Sir Musa were both booked for unsporting behaviour in the 77th minute. Kam Abioye made a further substitution immediately after, bringing on Mendy Kasee for Abbey Vini.
Despite being reduced in numbers, Kam Abioye held firm until the final whistle. Mendy Kasee himself was cautioned with a yellow card in added time at 93 minutes, reflecting the fiercely contested nature of the match. Referee Kasee managed the game with a performance rated as competent, though the numerous cards highlighted the competitive edge of the encounter.
In summary, Kam Abioye and Barca kiddies served up an enthralling 8-a-side friendly at Ilorin, with eight goals and several dramatic moments. Kam Abioye’s attacking trio, particularly Hot Pepper and Itz Kabir, were instrumental in their side’s efforts, while the tactical substitutions and disciplinary incidents added further intrigue. The 4-4 draw was a fair reflection of a game that swung back and forth, showcasing the skill and spirit of both teams.
