FEDERATION CUP
For the second time, Stephen Keshi Stadium hosts Federation Cup
As it was in 2018, the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba will again host the final match Federation Cup this year on Thursday, 15th June 2023.
The day will begin with the women’s final, between Cup holders Bayelsa Queens and multi-titlists Rivers Angels, which is billed to commence at 2pm. The men’s final, between 1978 champions Bendel Insurance of Benin and multi-titlists Rangers International of Enugu, will kick off at 5pm.
Football administrators, promoters, stakeholders and fans are already looking forward to one of the best finals in both men’s and women’s versions, with Rivers Angels and Bayelsa Queens the two teams that have represented Nigeria in the nascent CAF Women’s Champions League competitions – which underscores their strength on the home front.
Bayelsa Queens are the defending champions of the competition, having overwhelmed FC Robo Queens of Lagos in the final of the 2021 competition at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
The ingredients are there for a fierce contest in the men’s final, with Bendel Insurance and Enugu Rangers having contested two of the most memorable finals in the history of the men’s competition.
In what amounted to a stunning result that year, leaving bookmakers holding the short end of the stick, ‘Benin Arsenal’ dismantled the much-feared Enugu Rangers 3-0 in the 1978 final at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. Peter Egharevba scored the first goal through a long range free-kick that silenced the vociferous fans of the ‘Flying Antelopes’.
Three years down the line, Rangers exacted their revenge, with the peerless ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu leading the orchestra from the back as the all-white clad boys from Coal City won 2-0 with goals from Okwuchukwu Obiora and Ifeanyi Onyedika on a sunny afternoon.
Bendel Insurance have been in flaming form this season, unbeaten in the abridged Nigeria Premier Football League season and posting credible performances everywhere. Rangers International were on the back foot for the larger part of the first half of the season but picked up in the second stanza, and are sure to give their all in the final of a competition in which they love to soar.
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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