FEDERATION CUP
Federation Cup Delivers Early Shock as Sapele Lions Eliminate Katsina United
Former champions Enyimba F.C., Rangers International F.C., Rivers United F.C. and Bendel Insurance F.C. safely progressed to the next round of the President Federation Cup on Tuesday, but the opening round of fixtures also produced a major upset as Nigeria Premier Football League side Katsina United F.C. crashed out to non-league side Sapele Lions after a dramatic penalty shootout.
The Round of 64 fixtures played across different centres in the country delivered the usual mixture of dominance, tension and surprise associated with Nigeria’s oldest domestic cup competition.
One of the most convincing performances came from Enyimba, who brushed aside El Sharma FC 4-0 to underline their ambition of reclaiming the prestigious trophy. Rivers United were equally comfortable in a 2-0 victory over G12 FC, while Ikorodu City produced the biggest win of the day with a commanding 4-0 demolition of GAA Akanbi FC.
Defending champions Kwara United F.C. were pushed to the limit by Sporting Supreme before eventually surviving 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in regulation time.
There was also relief for Nasarawa United F.C., who defeated Westgate FC 3-1 in Anyigba, while Plateau United edged Ahudiannem FC 2-1 in a difficult encounter.
However, the biggest shock of the day came in Katsina where Katsina United squandered a 2-2 draw against Sapele Lions before collapsing 3-1 in the penalty shootout to suffer an embarrassing early exit.
In Maiduguri, El-Kanemi Warriors secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Krusader FC, while Bendel Insurance overcame Katsina United Junior 2-1 in another tightly contested fixture.
Bayelsa United defeated OISA FC 2-0, and Akwa United cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Wilbros FC.
Rangers International also avoided a potential upset after grinding out a hard-fought 1-0 win over Godswill Akpabio FC, while Wikki Tourists defeated Jigawa Golden Stars 2-0 in an all-Northern affair.
One of the surprise results involving top-flight opposition saw Sunshine Stars U19 stun Niger Tornadoes F.C. 2-1, adding further evidence that this year’s competition may again favour giant-killing performances from lower-tier teams.
Elsewhere, Adamawa United survived a major scare before defeating Agbana Wonderful FA 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, while Ingas FC edged Edel FC 1-0.
The competition continues on Wednesday with several Nigeria Premier Football League clubs entering action, including Shooting Stars S.C., who will face Kebbi United in Abuja, and Warri Wolves F.C., who take on Stormers FC in Benin City.
Other fixtures scheduled for Wednesday include Kogi United against Lobi Stars in Abuja, Beyond Limits versus Bida Lions in Ilorin, Mighty Jets against Adanimogo FC in Minna, and Kanta Warriors against FC Basira.
The remaining Round of 64 fixture between ABU DLC and Abakaliki FC is scheduled for Thursday in Makurdi.
The President Federation Cup remains Nigeria’s most unpredictable domestic football competition, with lower-division sides traditionally using the tournament to challenge the dominance of elite clubs and create some of the country’s most memorable football upsets.
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An explosive northern derby between Wikki Tourists FC and Jigawa Golden Stars will headline the Round of 64 fixtures of the 2026 President Federation Cup as action begins across Nigeria on Tuesday.
The highly anticipated clash, scheduled for Kaduna, is widely regarded as the standout fixture of the opening round as former Nigeria Premier Football League campaigners battle for a place in the next stage of the country’s oldest domestic cup competition.
Defending champions Kwara United will begin the defence of their title against Sporting Supreme U19 in Anyigba, while giant-killers Kebbi United face a difficult test against Shooting Stars Sports Club in Abuja.
In Makurdi, surprise package Ahudiannem FC will attempt to continue their impressive run when they confront Plateau United, while two-time African champions Enyimba FC are expected to parade their experience against El-Sharma FC in Abuja.
Last year’s beaten finalists Abakaliki FC will take on ABU DLC in Makurdi as they seek another deep run in the competition. Elsewhere, Kogi United face Lobi Stars in Abuja, while Rivers United square up against Lagos-based G12 FC in Benin City.
Traditional powerhouse Enugu Rangers will battle Godswill Akpabio FC in Aba, while Bendel Insurance tackle Katsina United Junior Team in Abuja.
Other notable fixtures include Akwa United against Wilbros FC in Aba, Bayelsa United versus OISA FC in Port Harcourt, and Niger Tornadoes taking on Sunshine Stars U19 in Ilorin.
With several Nigeria Premier Football League sides drawn against ambitious lower-division clubs and academy teams, this year’s Round of 64 is expected to produce the drama, surprises and fierce rivalries traditionally associated with the President Federation Cup.
Men’s Competition: Round of 64 Fixtures
- Kwara United Vs Sporting Supreme U19 – Anyigba (19/05/26): 4pm
- Sokoto United Vs Majoda FC – Lafia (20/05/26): 4pm
- Katsina United Vs Sapele Lions – Abuja Area 3 (19/05/26): 4pm
- Adamawa United Vs Agbana Wonderful Academy – Jos (19/05/26): 4pm
- Bendel Insurance Vs Katsina United Jnr – Abuja Area 3 (19/05/26): 1pm
- Crown FC Vs Cynosure FC – Anyigba (20/05/26): 4pm
- El-Kanemi Warriors Vs Krusaders FC – Makurdi (19/05/26): 4pm
- Akwa United Vs Wilbros FC – Aba (19/05/26): 4pm
- Kebbi United Vs Shooting Stars – Abuja Goal Project (20/05/26): 4pm
- Kada Warriors Vs Campus FC – Anyigba (21/05/26): 4pm
- Wikki Tourists Vs Jigawa GS – Kaduna (19/05/26): 4pm
- Bayelsa United Vs OISA FC – Port Harcourt (19/05/26): 4pm
- Beyond Limits Vs Bida Lions – Ilorin (20/05/26): 4pm
- Stormers FC Vs Warri Wolves – Benin City (20/05/26): 4pm
- Adamawa Academy Vs Flight FC – Bauchi (19/05/26): 4pm
- Mighty Jets Vs Adanimogo FC – Minna (20/05/26): 4pm
- G12 FC Vs Rivers United – Benin City (19/05/26): 4pm
- Godswill Akpabio FC Vs Enugu Rangers – Aba (19/05/26): 1pm
- Sporting Supreme Vs Ejigbo City – Anyigba (20/05/26): 1pm
- Nasarawa United Vs Westgate FC – Anyigba (19/05/26): 1pm
- Kogi United Vs Lobi Stars – Abuja Area 3 (20/05/26): 4pm
- Ahudiannem FC Vs Plateau United – Makurdi (19/05/26): 1pm
- Ingas FC Vs Edel FC – Owerri (19/05/26): 4pm
- Kanta Warriors Vs FC Basira – Minna (20/05/26): 4pm
- Ikorodu City Vs Gaa Akanbi – Ibadan (19/05/26): 4pm
- Jigawa GS Vs E-World FC – Makurdi (20/05/26): 4pm
- El-Sharma FC Vs Enyimba FC – Abuja Bwari (19/05/26): 4pm
- YSFON Stars Vs Gombe United – Abuja Bwari (19/05/26): 1pm
- Sunshine Stars U19 Vs Niger Tornadoes – Ilorin (19/05/26): 4pm
- Warinje FC Vs Bichi First – Jos (20/05/26): 4pm
- Zamfara United Vs Barau FC – Katsina (19/05/26): 4pm
- ABU DLC Vs Abakaliki FC – Makurdi (21/05/26): 4pm
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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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