As Nigeria’s national cup competition, the President Federation Cup enters the Round of 64, 17 of the teams are in the top echelon of the Nigerian league.

The missing trio of the 20 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) are Remo Stars, Niger Tornadoes and Katsina United.

But like that of last season, clubs from the second tier Nigeria National League (NNL) dominate the number.

There are 23 of them in the Round of 64. The remaining 24 teams are either feeder teams to the NPFL clubs or the lowest cadre of the Nigeria league system.

But in a system where seeding is not employed, the possibility of the top-level clubs clashing and eliminating themselves exists.

That leaves the lowest cadre teams revelling into the final stage and the competition losing appeal

Qualified Teams for Round of 64 (Men)

• Enyimba FC (Abia)
• Akwa United (Akwa Ibom)
• Bayelsa United (Bayelsa)
• Lobi Stars (Benue)
• El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno)
• Bendel Insurance (Edo)
• Rangers Int’l (Enugu)
• Heartland FC (Imo)
• Kano Pillars (Kano)
• Katsina United (Katsina)
• Ikorodu City (Lagos)
• Nasarawa United (Nasarawa)
• Kwara United (Kwara)
• Sunshine Stars (Ondo)
• Shooting Stars (Oyo)
• Plateau United (Plateau)
• Rivers United (Rivers)
• Mighty Jets (Plateau)
• Adamawa United (Adamawa)
• Solution FC (Anambra)
• Edel FC (Anambra)
• Wikki Tourists (Bauchi)
• Rovers FC (Cross River)
• Warri Wolves (Delta)
• Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi)
• Ijele FC (Enugu)
• Gombe United (Gombe)
• Barau FC (Kano)
• Kebbi United (Kebbi)
• ABS FC (Kwara)
• Inter Lagos (Lagos)
• FC Basira (Nasarawa)
• Beyond Limit (Ogun)
• Osun United (Osun)
• Igbajo United (Osun)
• Crown FC (Oyo)
• Sokoto United (Sokoto)
• Yobe Desert Stars (Yobe)
• Zamfara United (Zamfara)
• Ahudiyannem (Abia)
• Warinje FC (Bauchi)
• Crusaders FC (Bayelsa)
• Flight FC (Benue)
• E-World FC (Cross River)
• Cynosure FC (Ebonyi)
• Assemblies of God (Edo)
• EFCC FC (FCT)
• FWC FC (FCT)
• Lautau FC (Jigawa)
• Green Beret (Kaduna)
• Jr. Danburam FC (Katsina)
• FC Bako (Kogi)
• Imperial FC (Ogun)
• Wilbros FC (Rivers)
• CP Strikers (Borno)
• NOSMAS FC (Ekiti)
• El-Shama FC (Gombe)
• Dandidi Babes (Jigawa)
• Simon Ben (Kaduna)
• Discovery Talent (Kebbi)
• Atlantic Academy (Niger)
• Harmony Academy (Niger)
• Sunshine U19 (Ondo)
• Eagle Stars (Taraba)

Qualified Teams for Round of 32 (Women)

• Ahudiyannem Queens (Abia)
• Adamawa Queens (Adamawa)
• Ibom Angels (Akwa Ibom)
• Jacklyn Angels (Akwa Ibom)
• GP World FA (Anambra)
• Bayelsa Queens (Bayelsa)
• Crystal Stars (Bayelsa)
• Delta Queens (Delta)
• Delta Babes (Delta)
• First Mahi Babes (Ebonyi)
• Edo Queens (Edo)
• Fortress Ladies (Edo)
• Naija Ratels (FCT)
• N-Youth Ladies (FCT)
• Heartland Queens (Imo)
• Gallant Queens (Kaduna)
• Kada Queens (Kaduna)
• Confluence Queens (Kogi)
• Moje Queens (Kwara)
• Kwara Ladies (Kwara)
• Unification Ladies (Lagos)
• Dannaz Ladies (Lagos)
• Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa)
• Remo Stars Ladies (Ogun)
• Castmog Ladies (Ogun)
• Sunshine Queens (Ondo)
• Onimarg Ladies (Ondo)
• Osun Babes (Osun)
• Plateau United Queens (Plateau)
• Mighty Jets Mata (Plateau)
• Rivers Angels (Rivers)
• Sparkling Angels (Rivers)

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BY JOHNKENNEDY UZOMA, OWERRI

In their 2-0 defeat of the lesser-known OISA FC Okpala in Sunday’s Imo State final match of the President Federation Cup, former national champions, Heartland FC may have gotten a new lease of life.

It was their first trophy in three years following fluctuating fortunes that best the now rejuvenated side under coach Emmanuel Amuneke.

Escaping relegation at the end of the last minute on technical grounds owing to the ineligibility of Ikenne-based Beyond Limits Academy FC on account of club ownership, Heartland which started the season on a shaky note have navigated their way upstream from the relegation waters.

They now appear looking to reenact their glorious days as Nigeria club winners as they did in 2012 when they beat Lobi Stars in the Federation Cup final.

Their path to glory begins with their emergence as Imo State Cup winners. They did not make any pretence about their intentions as their early strike paid off as Suraji Lawal opened scoring against OISA on Sunday.  He later put in a second goal.

For the final match, former international and coach, Emmanuel Amuneke took the back seat as his assistant Charles Uzor revelled in the victory.

“I’m proud of my players for their hard work and determination. We deserved the win, and it’s a great boost for our confidence.”

The win is expected to boost Heartland FC’s morale ahead of their upcoming league matches against El-Kanemi of Maiduguri.

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After a very busy weekend of hostilities which culminated in the emergence of champions from 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) at the ongoing President Federation Cup (PFC), strategic partners to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited, has congratulated the teams for emerging victorious and being worthy ambassadors of their states.

According to GTI Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba in Lagos on Monday, he congratulated both the men and women teams that featured at the state finals for proving their mettle and hopes the energy, grit, technical and tactical discipline they exhibited during the state finals will be replicated when action commences at the national finals.

“GTI’s journey of taking the President Federation Cup to the next level has commenced this year after our maiden outing last year. GTI Group congratulates the champions from the various states and FCT for living up to the billing.

“As expected, there were upsets. In Abia for example, 2022/2023 Nigeria Premier Football League champions Enyimba of Aba were beaten 3-1 on penalties after a pulsating 0-0 draw with an NLO club, Ahudiya Nnem FC.

 The Abiriba-based amateur side had earlier defeated Abia Warriors in the semi-finals, thus setting the stage for another scintillating PFC national finals,” Ekejiuba said.

“In other results, perennial Enugu State President Federation Cup champions, Rangers International FC were lucky as they emerged champions courtesy of a 3-0 spanking of NNL side, Ijele FC in the final match played on Saturday, February 22, 2025.

“Rangers’ young midfield sensation, Daniel Onyia broke the deadlock in 33^rd minute when he rifled home a shot from a distance of thirty meters and Ijele FC goalkeeper was beaten hands-down.

“Again, in the 54^th minute, Michael Uchebo stabbed home the second goal for the ‘Flying Antelopes’ after receiving a pass from Effimi Nsi and later in the 67^th minute, Daniel Onyia grabbed his brace as his long-range shot took a wicked deflection to send the opponent’s shot stopper, Ojobo Ifebuche, the wrong way for the third goal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.”

Elsewhere, in Benue, Lobi Stars once again, emerged as champions of the 2025 President Federation Cup after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over a determined Flight FC of Gboko at the Benue State University Sports Complex, Makurdi.

The Pride of Benue took an early lead in the 20th minute when Johnmark Aule curled a stunning free-kick into the net, setting the tone for an electrifying contest. However, Flight FC responded just before halftime, with John Lim restoring parity in the 45th minute.

A second-half goal (54^th minute) from Samuel Tiza was enough to prove decisive in the thrilling encounter that saw Alia Boys emerge champions.

Below is the breakdown of all the results from the 36-state finals and FCT in both men and women categories of PFC:

2025 States PFC Final Results (Men)

• Abia: Enyimba 0-0 (1-3 pen) Ahudiyannem FC
• Adamawa: Adamawa United 2-0 Velvot Academy
• Akwa Ibom: Akwa United 1-0 Eagles Eye FA
• Anambra: Solution FC 0-0 (0-2 pen) Edel FC
• Bauchi: Wikki Tourists FC 1-0 Warinje FC
• Bayelsa: Bayelsa United 2-2 (2-4 pen) Krusaders FC
• Benue: Lobi Stars 2-1 Flight FC
• Borno: El Kanemi Warriors FC 3-0 Police Machine (CP Strikers) FC
• Cross Rivers: Rovers FC 1-0 E World
• Delta: Warri Wolves FC 2-1 Sapele Lions
• Ebonyi: Cynosure FC 0-1 Abakaliki FC
• Edo: Bendel Insurance FC 3-0 Assemblies of God
• Ekiti: COPDEM 0-1 NOSMAS
• Enugu: Rangers FC 3-0 Ijele FC
• FCT: EFCC 0-0 (3-4 pen) FWC FC
• Gombe: Gombe United 3-1 El Sharma FC
• Imo: Heartland FC  2-0 OISA FC Okpala
• Jigawa: Dandidi Babes 2-0 Lautau United
• Kaduna: Simon Beb FA 1-1 (2-4) Green Berets
• Kano: Pillars 3-2 Barau FC
• Katsina: Katsina United 1-0 Jnr. Danburam FC
• Kebbi: Discovery Talent Academy 1-5 Kebbi United
• Kogi: Kogi Central FC 1-2 FC Bako
• Kwara: Kwara United 1-1 (5-4 pen) ABS
• Lagos: Inter Lagos 0-0 (5-4 pen) Ikorodu City 
• Nasarawa: Nasarawa United 2-0 FC Basira
• Niger: Atlantic FA, Suleja 0-0 (6-5 pen) Harmony FA, Bosso
• Ogun: Imperial FC 2-2 (8-7 pen) Beyond Limits
• Ondo: Sunshine Stars 0-0 (4-3 pen) Sunshine Stars U19
• Osun: Osun United 0-1 Igbajo United
• Oyo: Crown FC 0-0 (2-4) Shooting Stars FC
• Plateau: Plateau United 2-0 Mighty Jets International FC
• Rivers: Rivers United 0-0 (4-3 pen) Wilbros FC
• Sokoto: Sokoto United FC 1-2 Sokoto North FC
• Taraba: Technobat FC 0-1 Eagle Stars FC
• Yobe: Yobe Desert Stars 10-1 Gujba Academy
• Zamfara: Zamfara United 1-0 Zamfara Feeders FC

2025 States PFC Final Results (Women)

1. Akwa Ibom: Ibom Angels 3-0 Jacklyn Angels
2. Bayelsa: Bayelsa Queens 8-0 Crystal Stars FC
3. Delta: Delta Queens FC 2-0 Delta Babes
4. Edo: Edo Queens 3-0 Fortress Ladies
5. FCT: Naija Ratels 6-0 N-Youth Ladies FA
6. Kaduna: Gallant Queens 6-0 Kada Queens FC
7. Kwara: Moje Queens 2-2 (4-3 pen) Kwara Ladies
8. Lagos: Unification FC Ladies 0-1 Dannaz Ladies FC
9. Ogun:  Remo Stars Ladies 4-0 Castmong Ladies FC
10. Ondo: Sunshine Queens 3-3 (4-2 pen) Onimarg FC
11. Plateau: Plateau United Queens 2-1 Mighty Jets Mata
12. Rivers: Rivers Angels 10-0 Sporting Angels

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