FEDERATION CUP
Enyimba in another crunchy duel as Federation Cup enters Round of 32
Four time Federation Cup winners, Enyimba have been handed another potentially tough fixture as the 2023 Federation Cup enters the Round of 32.
The Aba Elephants had survived a Premier League side, Rivers United in the Round of 64 and again still have another Premier League side, Plateau United to face.
Plateau United side broke the jinx that apparently afflicted Jos in the national cup when they won the then FA Cup in 1999. Twice in 1993 and 1998, they were runners up.
The Enyimba – Plateau United duel will hold on Wednesday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.
At the NFF/FIFA Goal Project in Abuja, multi-titlists Rangers International of Enugu will do battle with Kano Pillars, while the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano plays host to the potentially-explosive encounter between Mighty Jets of Jos and Gombe United FC.
A total of 16 matches will be disputed in the men’s category, all scheduled for Wednesday, while seven matches will be played in the women’s competition with Bayelsa Queens having reached the last eight without kicking a ball, following the unfortunate accident involving opponents Dannaz Ladies.
In Lokoja, Nasarawa Amazons – one of the establishment – will clash with Naija Ratels of FCT in a match slated for Thursday as the six other matches in the women’s competition.
FC Robo Queens of Lagos will make it a date with Royal Queens of Delta State in Awka while Rivers Angels are up against Osun Babes in Warri.
FEDERATION CUP: ROUND OF 32 FIXTURES (MEN)
- Heartland FC (Imo) Vs Essien Ayi FC (Cross River) – Awka – 10/05/23 – 2pm
- Ahudiya (Abia) Vs Bendel Insurance (Edo) – Calabar – 10/05/23 – 4pm
- Standard FC (Kaduna) Vs Sunshine Stars (Ondo) – Lokoja – 10/05/23 – 4pm
- EFCC FC (FCT) Vs Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) – Awka – 10/05/23 – 4pm
- Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs 3SC (Oyo) – Owerri – 10/05/23 – 4pm
- Mighty Jets (Plateau) Vs Gombe United (Gombe) – Kano – 10/05/23 – 4pm
- Osun United (Osun) Vs Insurance Feeders (Edo) – Lagos – 10/05/23 – 4pm
- Cynosure FC (Ebonyi) Vs Lobi Stars (Benue) – Abuja Area 3 – 10/05/23 – 4pm
- Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Enyimba FC – Benin City – 10/05/23
- Ingas FC (Enugu) Vs El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) – Kaduna – 10/05/23 – 4pm
- Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs DMD FC (Borno) – Bauchi – 10/05/23 – 4pm
- Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Kwara United (Kwara) – Osogbo – 10/05/23 – 4pm
- FC Ebedei (Ekiti) Vs Igbajo FC (Osun) – Ibadan – 10/05/23 – 4pm
- Rangers Int’l (Enugu) Vs Kano Pillars (Kano) – Abuja Goal Project – 10/05/23 – 4pm
- FR Ebunuja (Imo) Vs Doma United (Gombe) – Abuja Area 3 – 10/05/23 – 2pm
- Edel FC (Anambra) Vs Mailantarki FC (FCT) – Akure – 10/05/23 – 4pm
FEDERATION CUP: ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES (WOMEN)
- Bayelsa Queens Vs Dannaz Ladies (Dannaz Ladies were involved in an accident cannot continue in the competition)
- Fortress FC (Edo) Vs Honey Badgers (Benue) – Lokoja – 11/05/23 – 2pm
- Heartland Queens (Imo) Vs Lakeside Queens (Ogun) – Warri – 11/05/23 – 2pm
- Edo Queens (Edo) Vs Maureen Mmadu FC (Abia) – Calabar – 11/05/23 – 4pm
- Robo Queens (Lagos) Vs Royal Queens (Delta) – Awka – 11/05/23 – 4pm
- Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa) Vs Naija Ratels (FCT) – Lokoja – 11/05/23 – 4pm
- Rivers Angels (Rivers) Vs Osun Babes (Osun) – Warri – 11/05/23 – 4pm
- Moje Queens (Kwara) Vs Delta Queens (Delta) – Lagos – 11/05/23 – 4pm
FEDERATION CUP
History-making as El Kanemi becomes the first club to lift Nigeria’s Cup at Onikan since 1971
What a splendid season it has been for El-Kanemi Warriors! First they got promoted into the Nigeria Premier League. They are the winners of the President Federation Cup, following up earlier victories of 1991 and 1992 and then cap it up with a ticket to play at the CAF Confederation Cup next season.
The 2-0 win over Abia Warriors tells just a bit of their dominance. They were undoubtedly the better side as they fired full cylinder from the beginning of their encounter with Abia Warriors who were contended to merely chasing loose balls.
The El kanemi Warriors were blazing from beginning to the end and became the first team to lift the national cup at the competition’s place of birth since the then WNDC Shooting Stars won on 23 October 1971 – the last concluded Nigeria FA Cup at Onikan.
Nimble-footed midfielder Nasiru Salihu, who would be crowned most valuable player of the competition, dazzled in the middle of the park and scored both goals to leave the Abia Warriors to look to fight another day.
Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt won their ninth title and El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri won their third title as Nigeria’s National Cup (now known as President Federation Cup) grand finale took place at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos on Saturday.
In the women’s final, an enthralling encounter between the Angels from Garden City and Naija Ratels from the Federal Capital, and which kicked off at 1pm beside the Lagos Waterfront, was decided by a goal scored from the penalty spot by Blessing Okpe right before the half-time whistle.
Coach Whyte Ogbonda, who lifted his first trophy as head coach, praised his players for their dedication, resilience and hard work. “This victory is a testament to the team’s resilience and determination. We are thrilled to be champions of the President Federation Cup.”
Naija Ratels’ head coach, Bankole Olowookere, commended his young squad for their progress to the final. “Although we did not get the desired result, I am proud of my players for their fighting spirit. We will learn from this experience and come back stronger.”
AWARDS
WOMEN’S COMPETITION
Winner: Rivers Angels (N25million)
Runner-Up: Naija Ratels (N10million)
MVP: Blessing Okpe (Rivers Angels FC)
Top Scorer: Agama Ziperefeghe (Naija Ratels FC)
Best Goalkeeper: Agatha Thompson (Rivers Angels FC)
MEN’S COMPETITION
Winner: El-Kanemi Warriors (N50million)
Runner-Up: Abia Warriors (N20million)
MVP: Nasiru Salihu (El-Kanemi Warriors FC)
Top Scorer: Emmanuel Ogbole (Kwara United FC)
Best Goalkeeper: Ali Ishaku (Abia Warriors FC)
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
The Enugu Rangers and Jigawa Golden Stars’ encounter of November 18, 1995, in the Challenge Cup third-place match might have offered little in terms of thrills. But it could earn a place in football record books.
The drab encounter at the National Stadium, Lagos, lasted for 135 minutes.
This could be a record as the longest duration of a Challenge Cup match.
Anwalu Ibrahim shot the Jigawa Golden Stars ahead after he had converted a pass from Habibu Inuwa to beat Enugu Rangers’ goalkeeper, Emeka Ijeh, in the 33rd minute. Enugu Rangers levelled up in the 62nd minute through substitute player, Fred Okpalo.
At full time, score lines stood at 1-1.The mandatory extra time could not break the tie.
Then followed the penalty shootout that was filled with amazing drama.
In the first set of five kicks for each side, both scored twice to stalemate score line at 3-3.
Thereafter, one after the other, players on both sides missed from the penalty spot!
There were 11 penalty kicks in a row that were lost, arousing the sleepy crowd that watched with amazement. Jigawa’s skipper Ibrahim Gwadale eventually scored in the “sudden-death” situation to put final score line at 4-3 in favour of his side.
The encounter produced one of the longest streaks of penalty misses.
The report, perhaps ,could have found a place in the famous Guinness Book of Records if entry had been made for it.
The Nigeria President Federation Cup final is a battle of Warriors. On one hand is the cup’s familiar face, the El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri who are playing the final match for the fourth time ever.
On the other, are the Abia Warriors, playing their first ever national cup final match and thus dreaming for a continental debut.
El-Kanemi were winners in 1991 and 1992 and losing finalists in 2001.
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