Hosts Nigeria beat Morocco 38-10 in the final of the 2019 Rugby League MEA Championships in Lagos to lift the trophy for the first time. 

Favourites Nigeria began strongly with hooker Boluaji Fagboryn powering over with a short dart to the line from dummy half shortly after kick off. Converted by scrum half Isah Lawal-Saylawa Nigeria took an early 6-0 lead. 

Nigerian winger Prince Sam showed remarkable skill following a loose pass by Morocco where he flicked the ball up to his hands using his feet and then raced 80 metres to score. Isah Lawal-Saylawa converted taking the score to 12-0.

Morocco then went close to scoring in the corner as winger Kissi Soufiane just missed a kick through the line. 

Running out wide Nigeria loose forward Sadiq Adebiyi broke through a few tackles for a powerful try which was unconverted. After just over half an hour of play Nigeria had taken a 16-0 lead. 

Morocco then came back with a well worked try with a three pass move allowing prop Eddiche Adam to burst through a gap and score. 

Just before the break Nigeria’s Isah Lawal-Saylawa converted a penalty meaning Nigeria led Morocco 18-4. 

In the second half influential Nigerian scrum half Isah Lawal-Saylawa broke through to score just wide of the posts. With a missed conversion the scores were 22-4. 

A shoulder charge brought both teams together which resulted in Nigeria’ s Isah Lawal-Saylawa and Morocco 17 Samuel Akpabio both being sent to the sin bin. 

Nigeria loose forward Sadiq Adebiyi took a short ball from his standoff  to score which was converted by winger Gabriel John to take the score to 28-4. 

The pacey centre Izuchykwu Marcel broke outside for a good try and this was again converted by Gabriel John. Score 34-4. 

A bullet pass by Nigeria’s Nuhu Ibrahim missed three players and went straight to winger Gabriel John who scored in the corner. Unconverted this took the score to 38-4. 

Morocco’s standoff Laachiri Iliass took a great pass from dummy half to score a conciliation try for the finalists and he converted it himself meaning the final score was Nigeria 38 Morocco 10.  

Man of the Match went to Nigeria’s loose forward and captain Sadiq Adebiyi who was presented with the matchball after the game by RLIF Chairman Graeme Thompson.

Nigeria Team

1. Daniel John  2. Prince Sam 3. Izuchykwu Marcel 4.  Nosa Agwoje 5. Gabriel John 6. Jubril Olajide 7. Isah Lawal-Saylawa 8. Akeem Yusf 9. Boluaji Fagboryn 10. Azuka Kelvin 11. Alex Richard 12. Wahab Ajibola Oki 13. Sadiq Adebiyi 14. Nuhu Ibrahim 15. Shedrack Kalu 16. Basiru Usman 17. Samuel Akpabio  

Head Coach Joe Mbu 

Morocco Team 

1. Oujbor Yassiue 2. Kissi Soufiane 3. El Hamdaoui Aissa 4. Mbark Hani 5. Belechas Amine 6. Laachiri Iliass 7. Ait Alla Souhail 8. Medkouri Badreddine 9. Afouks Mohssin 10. Eddiche Adam 11. Elabdioui Oussama 12. Zariouh Bilal 13. El Fizazi Ilias 14. Mounwir Marouane 15 Eddaqquouni Amine 16. Edhouz Ismael 17. El Faiz Ahmed 

Head Coach Alonso Jerome 

Scorecard 

2 min Nigeria Try by 9. Converted by 7 Isah Lawal-Saylawa Score 6-0 

5min Nigeria Try by 2 Prince Sam. Converted by 7 Isah Lawal-Saylawa Score 12-0 

32 min Nigeria Try by 13 Sadiq Adebiyi. Conversion missed. Score 16-0 

35 min Morocco Try by 10 Eddiche Adam. Conversion missed by 6 Laachiri Iliass. Score 16-4 

40 min. Penalty by 7 Isah Lawal-Saylawa 18-4 

Half time 18-4 Nigeria lead 

46 min Nigeria Try by 7 Isah Lawal-Saylawa. Not converted by 7. Score 22-4

52 min Yellow Card for Nigeria 7 Isah Lawal-Saylawa and Morocco 17 Samuel Akpabio 

57 min. Nigeria Try by 13 Sadiq Adebiyi. Converted by 5 Gabriel John. Score 28-4 

62 min. Nigeria Try by 3 Izuchykwu Marcel. Converted by 5 Gabriel John. Score 34-4 

66min. Nigeria Try by 5 Gabriel John. Not converted by 7. Score 38-4 

70min. Morocco Try by 6 Laachiri Iliass. Converted by 6 Laachiri Iliass. Score 38-10