FEDERATION CUP
Round of 64 duel throw up a repeat of 2018 Federation Cup final match
The draw for the 2024 Federation Cup has thrown up a repeat of the 2018 final match as Enugu Rangers face crowd-pulling Kano Pillars in the Round of 64.
In the 2018 final match in Asaba, Enugu Rangers came back from three-goal down to stalemate scores and eventually won 4-3 on penalties.
In this season, both teams will be meeting for the third time following a 1-1 draw in Kano and a 4-1 win by Rangers in Enugu in the on-going Nigeria Premier League.
The Round of 64 Federation Cup is obviously the star match as last year’s runners-up, Enugu Rangers will go up against Kano Pillars.
At the national draw conducted inside the NFF Secretariat on Thursday, the two former winners were drawn together, with Cup holders Bendel Insurance to face Ogun State flag bearers, Stormers Sports Club.
High-riding Shooting Stars of Ibadan must negotiate for a place in the Round of 32 with Solution FC, while two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC of Aba must overpower Warinje FC from Bauchi, a survivor of the National Play-offs.
In the women’s draw, Cup holders Bayelsa Queens are up against Bright Future Queens, while Rivers Angels will tango with Ekiti Queens and Delta Queens tackle Fortress Ladies.
Last year’s runners-up Rivers Angels confront Ekiti Queens, with Delta Queens clashing with Fortress Ladies and Edo Queens to battle it out with Kada Queens.
At the draw, NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau assured that the Federation is committed to restoring the glamour and glitz of the oldest football championship in the land, while also pledging that the integrity of the competition will be maintained all through the men’s and women’s competitions till the Grand Finale.
Also at the draw were NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi; Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme; Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire; Director of Finance and Admin, Babatunde Akinsanya; Director of Competitions, Ruth David; COO, Nigeria National League, Dr. Ayo Abdulrahaman; Head of Marketing, Alizor Chuks; Head of Protocol, Barnabas Joro; Head of Women’s Football, Amina Daura; Head of National Competitions, Danlami Alanana; Member, Cross River State FA Board, Barr. Tom Agi; Special Assistant to NFF President, Abubakar Danladi; Special Assistant to General Secretary, Mohammed Ameenu and; Member, NFF Women’s Football Committee, Harry Awurumibe.
ROUND OF 64: MEN’S DRAW
Bendel Insurance (Edo) Vs Stormers SC (Ogun)
Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) Vs Jr. Danburan (Katsina)
Osun United (Osun) Vs EFCC FC (FCT)
Edel FC (Anambra) Vs Discovery Talent FC (Kebbi)
Zamfara United (Zamfara) Vs ABS FC (Kwara)
Kebbi United (Kebbi) Vs Ine Stars (Edo)
Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) Vs Cynosure FC (Ebonyi)
Mighty Jets (Plateau) Vs Zamfara United Feeders (Zamfara)
Gombe United (Gombe) Vs Karim United (Taraba)
El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) Vs Adanimogo FC (Ondo)
Lobi Stars (Benue) Vs Delta Marine (Delta)
Shooting Stars (Oyo) Vs Solution FC (Anambra)
Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Green Berets (Kaduna)
Coal City (Enugu) Vs Ekiti United Feeders (Ekiti)
Beyond Limits (Ogun) Vs Hammola Int’l (Osun)
Inter Lagos (Lagos) Vs May Frank (Cross River)
Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Lautai FC (Jigawa)
Kwara United (Kwara) Vs Rovers FC (Cross River)
Abia Warriors (Abia) Vs Ilaji FC (Oyo)
Sporting Supreme (FCT) Vs PCM FC (Ebonyi)
Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs FC Bako (Kobi)
Sokoto United (Sokoto) Vs Ofirima FC (Rivers)
FC One Rocket (Akwa Ibom) Vs Fr. Eburuaja (Imo)
Enyimba FC (Abia) Vs Warinje FC (Bauchi)
Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Ekiti United (Ekiti)
Sunshine Stars (Ondo) Vs Jedo Academy (Sokoto)
Rivers United (Rivers) Vs Ikukuoma FC (Imo)
Niger Tornadoes (Niger) Vs Niger Tornadoes Feeders (Niger)
Katsina United (Katsina) Vs Dutse Strikers (Jigawa)
Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) Vs FC Basira (Nasarawa)
Doma United (Gombe) Vs Gamji Eaglets (Taraba)
Kano Pillars (Kano) Vs Rangers Int’l (Enugu)
ROUND OF 32: WOMEN’S DRAW
Bayelsa Queens (Bayelsa) Vs Bright Future Queens (Enugu)
Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa) Vs Suit De Queens (Oyo)
Dannaz Ladies (Lagos) Vs Mighty Jets Mata (Plateau)
Remo Stars Ladies (Ogun) Vs OSKE Leans (Rivers)
Abia Angels (Abia) Vs Castmong Ladies (Ogun)
Naija Ratels (FCT) Vs ON Youth Academy (FCT)
Heartland Queens (Imo) Vs GoldenSun FC (Bayelsa)
FC Robo Queens (Lagos) Vs Onimang FC (Ondo)
Kwara Ladies (Kwara) Vs Ahudiya Nnem Queens (Abia)
Delta Queens (Delta) Vs Fortress Ladies (Edo)
Sunshine Queens (Ondo) Vs Green Foot FC (Enugu)
Plateau United Ladies (Plateau) Vs Honey Badgers (Benue)
Gallant FC (Kaduna) Vs Osun Babes (Osun)
Confluence Queens (Kogi) Vs Delta Ladies (Delta)
Edo Queens (Edo) Vs Kada Queens (Kaduna)
Ekiti Queens (Ekiti) Vs Rivers Angels (Rivers)
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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