By Kunle Solaja.

For the first time in nearly a decade, the Nigeria Football Federation appears to have quietly introduced a seeding arrangement into the President Federation Cup, a move that could restore some of the glamour, suspense and commercial appeal that once made the competition Nigeria’s most exciting domestic football tournament.

The Round of 64 fixtures released on Friday in Abuja showed a deliberate pattern in which Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clubs were largely shielded from facing one another in the opening round, a significant departure from recent editions where top-flight teams often eliminated themselves early in the competition.

The development immediately sparked discussions among followers of Nigerian football, especially as the world’s biggest football tournaments — including the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League and Africa Cup of Nations — rely on seeding systems to preserve competitive balance and sustain fan interest deep into the competition.

Defending champions Kwara United appear to have benefited from the arrangement, drawing relatively unknown Sporting Supreme U19 in what looks a favourable opening fixture.

Record cup winners Rangers International, who are chasing a seventh Federation Cup title, were paired against Godswill Akpabio FC, while title-chasing Rivers United will confront Lagos-based G12 FC as they continue their search for a first-ever national cup triumph.

The pattern is repeated across the draw, with most NPFL clubs avoiding direct confrontation against fellow elite sides.

Shooting Stars, still battling for a continental ticket through the league, will face Kebbi United. The Ibadan club are currently pursuing CAF Confederation Cup qualification from two fronts — through their strong NPFL campaign and the longer Federation Cup route.

The Oluyole Warriors have not won a major national title since lifting the league crown in 1998, and the cup competition may yet provide a realistic path back to continental football.

Another club with continental ambitions, Ikorodu City, were drawn against Gaa Akanbi FC in a fixture many observers believe favours the Lagos side.

Ikorodu City’s season, however, could be defined by two crucial matches within days — the Federation Cup tie and their decisive NPFL clash against title contenders Rangers International, a game already generating huge anticipation because of its implications at both ends of the table.

The apparent seeding arrangement could also help preserve the presence of crowd-pulling clubs into the latter stages of the tournament, potentially reviving television interest, gate takings and nationwide attention that the competition once commanded in the eras of Bendel Insurance, Stationery Stores, Enugu Rangers and Iwuanyanwu Nationale.

In previous seasons, random draws frequently produced all-NPFL clashes in the early rounds, leading to premature exits for some of the competition’s biggest clubs and reducing the intensity of later stages.

This time, however, traditional heavyweights such as Enyimba FC, Bendel Insurance, El-Kanemi Warriors and Niger Tornadoes all begin against lower-ranked or lesser-known opponents.

Whether the NFF formally acknowledges the use of seeding or not, the structure of the draw has already created optimism that the Federation Cup may once again regain the unpredictability, drama and nationwide fascination that historically distinguished it from the league competition.

Among standout fixtures in the Round of 64 are:

• Kwara United vs Sporting Supreme U19
• G12 FC vs Rivers United
• Godswill Akpabio FC vs Rangers International
• Kebbi United vs Shooting Stars
• Ikorodu City vs Gaa Akanbi FC
• El Sharma FC vs Enyimba FC
• Sunshine Stars vs Niger Tornadoes
• Bendel Insurance vs Katsina United Jnr.

Women’s Competition:

•  Rivers Angels Vs NAF Queens
• Abia Angels Vs Ikukuoma Queens
• FC Robo Queens Vs Rangers Women
• Remo Stars Ladies Vs Onimarg FC
• Ahudiannem Queens Vs Moje Queens
• Heartland Queens Vs Dragon Fury Ladies
• Ibom Angels Vs Fortress Ladies
• Pacesetter Queens Vs Bayelsa Queens
• Osun Babes Vs Plateau United Queens
• Sunshine Queens Vs Solo Wonders
• Confluence Queens Vs Gallant Queens
• Fuoye Queens Vs Esthington FC
• Delta Queens Vs Royal Queens
• Edo Queens Vs Ghetto Tiger Queens
• Naija Ratels Vs Mighty Jets Mata
• Osklean FC Vs Nasarawa Amazons

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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that the final matches of this year’s President Federation Cup will be staged across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory this weekend, with only Lagos State granted an exemption.

According to the football body, all state finals are scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 25 or Sunday, April 26, in line with earlier directives issued to participating states and organising committees.

Lagos State was excused after making a formal request to the NFF, citing the unavailability of its proposed venue, which is set to host an official function by the state government.

NFF Director of Competitions, Ruth David, reiterated the federation’s stance on strict compliance, warning that any state—apart from Lagos—that fails to stage its final this weekend will face sanctions.

“Failure of any state to play its final match this weekend will attract a fine of N1,000,000,” she stated.

The federation added that the conclusion of state finals will pave the way for the National Play-off, after which the draw for the national phase of the competition will be conducted.

The President Federation Cup, Nigeria’s oldest domestic knockout competition, continues to serve as a key platform for grassroots teams to compete for national recognition and continental qualification opportunities.

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Remo Stars FC have suffered a major setback in their quest for continental football after crashing out of the State FA Cup, losing in the semi-final to their feeder team, Beyond Limits FA, in Ikenne on Wednesday.

The shock defeat effectively ends Remo Stars’ hopes of qualifying for next season’s CAF Confederation Cup through the Federation Cup route, leaving the club missing out on continental football for the first time in five years.

The match, played at the club’s home base in Ikenne, produced an unusual scenario in which the senior side fell to their own academy outfit, underlining both the growing strength of Beyond Limits FA and the unexpected nature of the result.

For Remo Stars, the timing could hardly be worse. With their current standing in the Nigeria Premier Football League table leaving them outside the automatic continental qualification places, the Federation Cup had represented their most realistic pathway back to African competition.

That door has now been firmly shut.

The result also raises questions about the club’s campaign, as a team that has consistently been among Nigeria’s emerging forces now faces a rare season without international exposure.

Beyond Limits FA, meanwhile, continues their fairytale run in the competition, demonstrating the depth of talent within the Remo Stars football structure and reinforcing the growing reputation of privately driven football development models in Nigeria.

For Remo Stars, attention will now shift back to their league campaign, where they must finish strongly to salvage pride in what is turning into a disappointing end to the season.

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