The regular season of the 2026 Nathaniel Idowu U-16 Football League ended on Saturday, with Matchday 9 producing 18 goals across five fixtures and confirming the four teams that will contest the Super 4 playoffs.

After nine weeks of grassroots football, Young 11 FA, Fortune FA, Ajegunle United SC and SC Heritage emerged as the league’s top performers. Young 11 FA finished top of the standings, completing the regular season unbeaten with seven wins and two draws from nine matches, for 23 points.

Their final game was a convincing 3-1 victory over Divinely Blessed FA at the Nathaniel Idowu Football Pitch, Oregie. Fortune FA also ended strongly, beating Atico FA 4-1 at the New Maracana Sports Complex in Tolu. Akanbi Quadri opened the scoring in the fifth minute, and Odesola Odunayo doubled the lead eight minutes later. Oyesi Fuhad and Agbato Wasiu added further goals.

 Fortune finished second on 18 points with a goal difference of +19, the best among the leading teams. Ajegunle United SC took third place after a 3-0 win over Seraphic FA. They finished on 17 points, and a superior goal difference of +10 kept them ahead of SC Heritage.

SC Heritage secured the final Super 4 place with a 4-2 win over St. Petersburg FA at Oregie. Norbert Jonathan (16^th  and 88^th  minutes) and Mutar Adetoro (56^th  and 72^nd  minutes) each scored twice, while Isiaka Basit and Kolawole Abdulsalam replied for St. Petersburg. Heritage also ended on 17 points, with a goal difference of +7.

Outside the qualification race, Bright Stars SA forward Feranmi Akinwale scored a hat-trick in the 7th, 67th and 90th minutes of a 3-1 win over Moore Wins Foundation FA. Jeffery Adekola scored Moore Wins’ consolation. Bright Stars finished fifth on 16 points, missing