SEALS Cup: What Should AFASites Expect From AFAS Teams?

Grace Dolor

It is a new session, and this means a lot of things for students of the Premier University. One of the most anticipated events is the popular SEALS Cup, held during the first semester of every academic year at the University of Ibadan.

The SEALS Cup (an acronym for Science, Education, Arts, Law, and Social Sciences Cup) sees participation from as many as 32 departments across all faculties in the university, each paying a certain registration fee. These teams enter the competition with great vigour, but only one team ultimately takes the trophy.

Reflecting on the recently concluded Inter-faculty football games and the AFAS Dean’s Cup, some teams have shown they are poised to do well. The AFAS male football team, being the champions of the Inter-faculty games, raises expectations for the departmental teams from the faculty of Arts.

With promising players from departments such as Philosophy, Classics, Arabic and Islamic Studies, CLA, and Archaeology and Anthropology, what can AFASites expect from these players in their departmental teams in the SEALS Cup?

Historically, teams from departments like English, Music, CLA, and Linguistics have been scarcely represented in the SEALS Cup. However, the Philosophy team, current holders of the SEALS Cup and winners of the faculty Deans Cup, will be looking to defend their title as the best team in UI. Will they maintain their dominance, or will they bow out at the group stage like the immediate past trophy winners, the Geography team?

As the tournament unfolds, AFASites should be ready to rally behind their departmental teams and show their support throughout the competition.