FEDERATION CUP
‘Nest of Champions’ to host former Nigerian champions’ clash
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Two former Nigerian football league champions, Enyimba FC and Rivers United will open this season’s national cup – the Federation Cup in what could have been a final match of the competition.
The clash may end up being the most glamorous of the projected 41 matches leading to the title match.
Nowhere else is ideal centre for the clash of champions other than the ‘Nest of Champions’ as the Godswill Akpabio Stadium Uyo is nicknamed.
Rivers United are the current Nigerian League Champions. Enyimba are the most successful Nigerian club in history having been the sole winners of the CAF Champions League (2003 and 2004) as well as being Nigeria’s only winners and first back-to-back winners of the CAF Super Cup – 2003 and 2004.
In addition, Enyimba have been Nigerian league champions for a record eight times as well as the national cup on four instances.
The explosive match comes up on Wednesday, just a day before Rivers United depart for their quarter-final match with Tanzania’s Young Africans in the CAF Confederation Cup.
ALL THE ROUND OF 64 FIXTURES (MEN)
- Heartland FC (Imo) vs Jedo FC (Sokoto) – Area 3 Abuja – 26/04/23 – 12pm
- Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) Vs Essien Ayi FC (Cross River) – Aba – 26/04/23 – 2pm
- Ahudiya FC (Abia) Vs Jigawa Golden Stars (Jigawa) – Jos – 26/04/23 – 2pm
- ABS FC (Kwara) Vs Bendel Insurance FC (Edo) – Lagos – 26/04/23 – 2pm
- Standard FC (Kaduna) Vs Ekiti United (Ekiti) – Lokoja – 26/04/23 – 12pm
- FC Basira (Nasarawa) Vs Sunshine Stars (Ondo) – Lokoja – 26/04/23 – 2pm
- EFCC FC (FCT) Vs Katukan Tsafe FC (Zamfara) – Kano – 26/04/23 – 2pm
- Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) Vs Akwa United FC (Akwa Ibom) – UNEC Enugu – 27/04/23 – 4pm
- Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Beyond Limit FC (Ogun) – Awka – 26/04/23 – 4pm
- 3SC (Oyo) Vs Adamimogo FC (Ondo) – Lagos – 26/04/23 – 2pm
- Mighty Jets (Plateau) Vs Niger Tornadoes Feeders (Niger) – Kaduna – 26/04/23 – 4pm
- Malumfashi FC (Katsina) Vs Gombe United (Gombe) – Jos – 26/04/23 – 4pm
- Osun United (Osun) Vs Katsina United (Katsina) – Area 3 Abuja – 26/04/23 – 2pm
- Bendel Insurance Feeders (Edo) Vs Maikunkele FC (Niger) – Lokoja – 26/04/23 – 4pm
- Cynosure FC (Ebonyi) Vs Kano Pillars Jnr (Kano) – Lokoja – 27/04/23 – 4pm
- Lobi Stars (Benue) Vs FC One Rocket (Akwa Ibom) – Awka – 26/04/23 – 12pm
- Jama United (Zamfara) Vs Plateau United (Plateau) – Kano – 26/04/23 – 4pm
- Rivers United (Rivers) Vs Enyimba FC (Abia) – Uyo – 26/04/23 – 4pm
- Ingas FC (Enugu) Vs Novia FC (Adamawa) – Kaduna – 26/04/23 – 2pm
- El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) Vs De Cardinal FC (Rivers) – Area 3 Abuja – 26/04/23 – 4pm
- Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs Kebbi United (Kebbi) – Minna – 26/04/23 – 4pm
- DMD FC (Borno) Vs ABJ FC (Bauchi) – Gombe – 26/04/23 – 4pm
- Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Crusader FC (Bayelsa) – Owerri – 26/04/23 – 2pm
- Gateway United (Ogun) Vs Kwara United (Kwara)- Ibadan – 27/04/23 – 2pm
- FC Ebedei (Ekiti) Vs Hope of Glory FC (Cross River) – Awka – 26/04/23 – 2pm
- Yobe Desert Stars (Yobe) Vs Igbajo FC (Osun) – Goal Project Abuja – 26/04/23 – 12pm
- Adamawa United (Adamawa) Vs Rangers Int’l (Enugu) – Goal Project Abuja – 27/04/23 – 4pm
- Ilaji FC (Oyo) Vs Kano Pillars (Kano) – Minna – 26/04/23 – 2pm
- Green Berets FC (Kaduna) Vs FR Ebunuja (Imo) – Lokoja – 27/04/23 – 2pm
- Ozalla FC (Anambra) Vs Doma United (Gombe) – Goal Project Abuja – 26/04/23 – 2pm
- Kogi United Feeders (Kogi) Vs Edel FC (Anambra) – Akure – 26/04/23 – 4pm
- Mailantarki FC (FCT) Vs kogi United (Kogi) – Jos – 26/04/23 – 12pm
ALL THE ROUND OF 32 FIXTURES (WOMEN)
- Bayelsa Queens (Bayelsa) – Bye
- Akwa Angels (Akwa Ibom) Vs Dannaz Ladies (Lagos) – Asaba – 27/04/23 – 4pm
- Owo Itan FC (Akwa Ibom) Vs Fortress FC (Edo) – Aba – 28/04/23 – 4pm
- Honey Badgers (Benue) Vs Kada FC (Kaduna) – Minna – 28/04/23 – 4pm
- Heartland Queens (Imo) Vs Confluence Queens (Kogi) – Asaba – 28/04/23 – 4pm
- Lakeside FC (Ogun) Vs Kwara Ladies (Kwara) – Ibadan – 28/04/23 – 4pm
- Sunshine Queens (Ondo) Vs Edo Queens (Edo) – Awka – 28/04/23 – 4pm
- Maureen Mmadu KFC (Abia) Vs Green Foot (Enugu) – Owerri – 28/04/23 – 4pm
- FC Robo (Lagos) Vs Immaculate Queens (Enugu) – Warri – 28/04/23 – 4pm
- First Mah FC (Imo) Vs Royal Queens (Delta) – Ekiti – 28/04/23 – 4pm
- Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa) Vs Gallant FC (Kaduna) – Jos – 28/04/23 – 4pm
- Naija Ratels (FCT) Vs Adamawa Queens (Adamawa) – Bauchi – 28/04/23 – 4pm
- Rivers Angels (Rivers) Vs Golden Sun FC (Bayelsa) – Uyo – 28/04/23 – 4pm
- Osun Babes (Osun) Vs Awka Angels (Anambra) – Abuja – 28/04/23 – 4pm
- Ekiti Queens (Ekiti) Vs Moje Queens (Kwara) – Lagos – 28/04/23 – 4pm
- Paul E. FC (FCT) Vs Delta Queens (Delta) – Enugu – 28/04/23 – 4pm
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/sport-village-square-logo.jpg)
FEDERATION CUP
History-making as El Kanemi becomes the first club to lift Nigeria’s Cup at Onikan since 1971
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/el-kanemi-warriors-1.jpg)
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)
FEDERATION CUP
The longest Federation Cup match in history
![e0bf68e8-federation-cup.png](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/NFF-set-to-wield-big-stick-over-Federation-Cups-states.png)
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.
FEDERATION CUP
Warriors beat different drums at Nigeria Cup final
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/president-Federation-Cup-logo.png)
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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