Despite their relegation to the Nigeria Nationwide League, Abakaliki FC will face-off with Kwara United in the grand finale of this year’s national cup final in Lagos. Both sides are eyeing their Holy Grail in what is reasonably a clash between ‘David’ and ‘Goliath’ , writes TUNDE LIADI …
The stage is set for the 2025 President Federation Cup with the two battling for the men’s title, Kwara United and Abakaliki FC at the ready to treat the spectators at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos to the best of football spectacle.
It is the grand finale of the most iconic club competition in Nigeria and two teams without previous success in the competition will be eager to etch their name on the coveted trophy for the first time in their history.
Road to the final
Abakaliki FC with Ifeanyi Onyedika as head coach, has withstood many hurdles before qualifying for the President Federation Cup final. Paired against Yobe Desert Stars in the round of 32 , Abakaliki FC defied the odds to win the game 4-3 on penalties after they both tied goalless draw in regulation time.
Next in the Round of 16 for Abakaliki FC was Enyimba who came into the fixture at the back of eliminating the reigning champions, El Kanemi Warriors.
As such, the People’s Elephant were tipped to progress to the quarter final but the result at the end of the game was a shocking as Abakaliki FC stunned their more illustrious opponent 2-0 to continue their fairy-tale run in the competition.
It was the turn of Nasarawa United to feel the wrath of the Rice Boys in the quarter final. The game ended in a 2-2 draw at the end of the regulation time before Pascal Elochukwu’s brilliance in goal during the spot kick, saw Abakaliki FC triumph 5-4 on penalties.
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Abakaliki FC had Ikorodu City FC to face in the semi-final with pundits and purists giving the game to the Oga Boys based on their performance in the competition also where they had beaten Beyond Limits and Wikki Tourists earlier in the competition.
Yet the Ifeanyi Onyedika-led side was not perturbed. They relied on their skills and kept on doing almost the same thing that had kept them in the competition. Abakaliki FC eventually edged Ikorodu City 5-4 on penalties to book their place in the grand finale.
Though they were not coordinated enough to secure their spot in the Nigeria National League for next season following their demotion at the end of the recently concluded season, Abakaliki FC, finds solace with their qualification for the final.
Kwara United on the other hand have crushed all their opponents along the way and conceded once in the dramatic quarter final’s victory over Akwa United. Prior to that, they defeated Cynosure FC of Abakaliki 2-0 in the round of 64 before dispatching Gombe United 1-0. Solution FC came and fell 3-0 in the Round of 32 and Gombe United became unlucky too in the Round of 16 losing 1-0 to the Harmony Boys.
They faced Nigeria Premier Football League opposition and twice winners of the FA Cup, Akwa United in the quarter final. It was a quarter final to relish after they shared four goals equally between themselves 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes before Kwara United pulled through on 5-3 penalty shoot-out victory.
Thereafter, Kwara United squared up against Rangers International FC who were the winner of the competition in 2018 and were finalists in 2023. The Flying Antelopes were the favourites to qualify for the final but Wasiu Alalade moment of brilliance in the second half was all Kwara United needed to seal a famous win in Lagos.
It is this same venue they would be returning to face the surprise package of this year’s edition of the competition, Abakaliki FC, tomorrow at the MJ Arena in Onikan.
The President Federation Cup previously called FA Cup, Challenge or Federation Cup, is not new to shocks and surprises with Bayelsa United’s stunning victory over Nasarawa United in 2021 still fresh in minds of many in 2021 when the Prosperity Boys were still in the Nigeria National League.
Recall also the 1984 edition when Leventis United of Ibadan did the unthinkable by beating equally Abiola Babes 1-0 through Matthew Onyema’s goal to lift the FA Cup while in the third tier of the Nigerian league. It is equivalent to Nigeria Nationwide League One today.
This time, both Kwara United and Abakaliki FC, are chasing a dream victory for obvious reasons.
No club from Ebonyi State has ever gone this far in the President Federation Cup while the last time a club from Kwara State came close to winning the competition was in 1976 when Alyufsalam Rocks got to the final but were beaten 2-0 by Rangers International FC in the grand finale.
Some 49 years have passed since then.
Kwara United head coach, Tunde Sanni sees the Harmony Boys as the underdogs of the 2025 President Federation Cup because no one gave them a chance to get to the final but noted that with the support of all, they are eager to end their 49 years wait for title.
“We are the Surprise team of the FA Cup this year. We, as an old State, have waited for 49 years to get to this stage. A stage Alyufsalam Rocks got to in 1976, before Enugu Rangers stopped them with 2 unreplied goals, to lift the cup,” Sanni said. “Ironically, it is the same Rangers that we stopped in the semis before getting here now. So, we are on a mission. Our Continental ticket is waiting for us.”
The coach further stressed that they have prepared very well for the final with their arrival in Lagos eight days before the game a testament that they were ready to stop Abakaliki FC and end Kwara State teams close to five decades of title drought.
He also emphasised the support they have got from their fans and the assurance that they would throng Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos on Saturday in their numbers to cheer the team to win.
For coach Onyedika, Abakaliki FC is motivated to win the title for Ebonyi people which has never got to this Stage of the competition before.
Onyedika enthused that Kwara United will be playing with fire to underrate his glory-chasing lads.
“This is a competition we have prepared to win for Ebonyi people. We have prepared so hard and dissipated our energies to ensure we are ready to perform on Saturday,” Onyedika said.”It is left for Kwara United to take us for granted. It will be to their own peril. It is our desire to win the cup and take it home for our Governor.
Abakaliki FC are still in the President Federation Cup because of the heroics of goalkeeper Pascal Elochukwu.
In three of the four previous games played in the earlier rounds going to penalty shot, Elochukwu made some crucial saves that kept the club in the competition.
He reckoned his side are ready to put Kwara United where they belong as he called on their fans to come cheer them to victory.
“We have had a good run in this year’s FA Cup and it is our desire to win it. We will show that we are capable of winning the trophy,” Elochukwu said.
Meanwhile, before the Men’s President Federation Cup final, the Women’s will slug it out too with Rivers Angels versus Nasarawa Amazons in line to contest for the title.
Both teams have crushed all opponents in their directions including Edo Queens, Bayelsa Queens, Remo Stars Ladies among others.
The women’s President Federation Cup final will start by 1pm tomorrow at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.
Rivers Angels are eyeing a 10th FA Cup crown while Nasarawa Amazons are not to be taken for granted too.
KWARA UNITED’S ROAD TO THE FINAL:
Kwara United 2 – 0 Cynosure
Kwara United 1 – 0 Gombe United
Kwara United 3 – 0 Solution FC
Akwa United 2 – 2 Kwara United
*Kwara United won 5-4 on penalties
Rangers 0 – 1 Kwara United
ABAKALIKI FC: ROAD TO THE FINAL
Abakaliki 0-0 Yobe Desert Stars
*Abakaliki FC won5-4 on penalties
Enyimba 0-2 Abakaliki FC
Nasarawa 1-1 Abakaliki FC
*Abakaliki FC won5-4 on penalties
Ikorodu City 0-0 Abakaliki FC
*Abakaliki FC won5-4 on penalties
Match Officials: Abakaliki FC vs. Kwara United FC
Match Coordinator: Mr. Yakubu Sarma
Referee Assessor: Mr. Peter Edibe
Referee: Joseph Ogabor
AR1: Mahmud Yakubu
AR2: Emmanuel Omada
RR: Yemisi Akintoye