Alara Little League Clinch West Africa Title with Convincing Win Over Defending Champions.

Alara Little League Clinch West Africa Title with Convincing Win Over Defending Champions

Alara Little League of Nigeria emerged champions of the 2025 West Africa Little League Baseball Major, defeating defending champions Cotonou Little League of the Republic of Benin by five runs to nil in the final played today.

In a composed and disciplined performance, the Nigerian champions shut out their Beninese opponents, executing both offensively and defensively to seal the title.

Alara scored consistently across innings and restricted Cotonou to limited opportunities, a sharp contrast to the earlier meeting where the Benin side had handed Alara a rare defeat.

The victory marked a strong finish for Alara, who had dominated the national phase of the tournament and responded emphatically when it mattered most on the regional stage.

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Speaking after the final, the District Administrator of Little League Nigeria, Mr. Laniyan Kehinde, praised the overall quality of the competition and the level of participation recorded during the tournament. He commended the growth of baseball in the country and appreciated the continued backing from partners and sponsors.

Mr. Kehinde specifically acknowledged Play Global as a major sponsor, Ronke Champion-Adeyemi for her consistent support since 2012, as well as Indomie and other brands whose contributions helped make the tournament a success.

Also reacting to the conclusion of the tournament, Coach Adekoya Peter Sammy of Baptist Academy, Lagos, reiterated his call for increased support for baseball development in Nigeria.

He noted that the improvement seen across teams is evidence that the sport is growing and stressed that with sustained investment, Nigeria has the potential to produce athletes capable of representing the country at future Olympic Games.

Alara head coach, Tomisin, was visibly delighted after the final whistle, expressing pride in his players for their response, discipline, and execution on the day.

He praised the boys for staying focused and delivering when it mattered most.

Despite the defeat, Cotonou Little League coach, Fernando Lavenir Atannom, remained positive in his assessment of his team.

He noted that the players demonstrated what they have been learning, added that they played well throughout the tournament, and expressed satisfaction with their development despite falling short in the final.

The conclusion of the West Africa Tournament further underlined the steady growth of youth baseball in the region, with Nigeria and Benin once again showcasing talent, structure, and competitive spirit on the Little League stage.