Mini World Cup -Team Northern Africa beat Cameroon by 1-0

During West Virginia University’s International Student Organization’s Mini World Cup, Two teams representing African regions played an intense final game of soccer on Sunday.

Team Cameroon defeated by African Executionists with a score of 1-0 on Sunday in Virginia University’s International Student Organization’s Mini World Cup.

Lotanna Obiorah a, junior petroleum and natural gas engineering major from Nigeria, scored the one and only winning goal to win the cup for The African Executionists.

“It feels very good to win,” he said. “This is a third year competing, and we really wanted to bring the title to Africa this time.”

Seyi Okuyemi, a graduate statistics major from Nigeria, said his experience playing in the Mini World Cup was fun, and he was thrilled with his team’s win.

Okuyemi said a lot of people did not predict the African Executionists to win.

Kipchumba Kemboi, a freshman biology major, was Team Cameroon’s goal tender in the championship.

“We always played with teamwork and had high sportsmanship,” he said. “We got tested every game we played and came out on top, but not in this game.”

Kemboi said the Mini World Cup gave him an opportunity to meet a lot of people that he would have never have known otherwise. Developing bonds with players was easy throughout the tournament, he added.

ISO’s Mini World Cup featured 32 teams playing games over a four-week period.

“The first year, a team of champions were from the Middle East, last year’s champions were American, but this year some kids from Africa will be the winner,” said Gary Laruta, president of ISO. “It just goes to show how diverse the Mini World Cup is.”

ISO Public Relations Chair and Student Government Association Gov. Ahmad Alashi said this year turned out a lot better than last year in terms of participation. He said the entire tournament was very intense from day one.

“You can’t predict whose winning or how you can win,” he said. “That’s just how soccer works.”

Laruta said players on all teams kept a consistent spirit of fair play throughout the event.

The first place team receives a trophy and a celebration dinner, Laruta said. The two top teams also receive coupons from the Mini World Cup’s sponsors and medals for their accomplishments, he added.

“The Mini World Cup accomplished its goal of dispersing diversity awareness on campus and providing a break for foreign and domestic students to interact”, said Laruta.