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.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

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.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

The Ikenne-based team, which has been one of the standout performers in youth football in Nigeria, secured its place in the national rounds after an impressive run that included a high-profile victory over their parent club, Remo Stars FC.

Beyond Limit secured a 4-2 penalty shootout win after a 1-1 draw.

Now, Beyond Limits FA will not only be chasing silverware but also showcasing a growing model of synergy between grassroots football development and corporate sponsorship in Nigeria.

The presence of ValueJet Airlines on the team’s kit underscores the increasing confidence of corporate Nigeria in youth-driven football projects. For Beyond Limits FA, the partnership represents more than branding—it is a statement of ambition.

Club officials believe the exposure provided by the Federation Cup’s national stage offers an ideal platform to highlight both emerging talent and the viability of structured academy systems in Nigerian football.

Beyond Limits FA’s journey has been one of steady growth, built on a philosophy of player development and competitive exposure. Their shock victory over Remo Stars in the State FA Cup semi-final sent a strong signal about the depth of talent within the system.

That result, which effectively ended Remo Stars’ continental hopes, also thrust the academy side into the national conversation.

Now competing among Nigeria’s top teams in the Federation Cup, Beyond Limits FA are aiming to extend their fairytale run while gaining invaluable experience for their young squad.

The involvement of ValueJet Airlines highlights a broader shift in Nigerian football, where private investment is increasingly supporting structured development pathways.

Observers say such partnerships are crucial for sustaining grassroots programmes, improving player welfare, and creating a pipeline of talent capable of competing at higher levels.

As the Federation Cup progresses, Beyond Limits FA will be looking to prove that their journey is no fluke. With youthful energy, growing confidence, and corporate backing, they represent a new wave of Nigerian football—one that blends development, professionalism, and ambition.

For ValueJet Airlines, the association offers national visibility. For Beyond Limits FA, it is a chance to fly even higher.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Former Director General of the National Sports Commission, Dr Patrick Ekeji, has again called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to take deliberate steps to restore the prestige of Nigeria’s national football cup competition.

Ekeji, a former international footballer and one of the most experienced administrators in Nigerian sport, reiterated his earlier suggestion that the competition should return to its historic name, the Challenge Cup, arguing that the brand once commanded nationwide passion and respect.

Chatting with Sports Village Square, Ekeji lamented that the competition—now known as the President’s Federation Cup—has lost much of the appeal that once made it one of the most anticipated events in the Nigerian football calendar.

Decades ago, the national cup was a major crowd-puller that captivated football fans across the country, especially during the final stages. Stadiums were packed, and the competition enjoyed massive media attention.

Today, however, the tournament struggles to attract similar interest. Even the national final rarely fills stadiums or commands the level of media attention expected in an era when coverage has expanded from traditional platforms to digital media.

The competition has also faced organisational challenges. In recent seasons, some clubs have withdrawn from fixtures during the national stage of the tournament, prompting the NFF to announce on Monday, the imposition of sanctions, including a ₦1 million fine on teams that fail to honour matches.

Reacting to the situation, Ekeji said the football authorities must undertake a comprehensive review of the competition and the broader domestic football structure.

“The NFF has to rejig the competition along with the NPFL,” he said.

According to him, the financial realities facing Nigerian clubs have also contributed to the tournament’s decline.

“There is no income to owners of clubs, and the businesses are not expanding. Those still running clubs are really struggling and are hardly breaking even,” he said.

Ekeji also raised concerns about broader structural challenges affecting Nigerian football.

“Security is not guaranteed, and our politics is, at best, very unpredictable. As I proposed in my communication with you last year on this subject, the NFF, by not injecting a strong strategy into its management of our football, cannot expect a turnaround in any aspect of the game,” he added.

The veteran sports administrator believes restoring the historic name Challenge Cup could help reconnect the competition with its rich heritage and emotional appeal among Nigerian football fans.

“Challenge Cup resonates in the minds of all football followers in Nigeria and automatically connects with football, its development and followership,” Ekeji said.

“This cup is synonymous with the game in our country, just like the FA Cup is with the game in England, where it has remained so.”

He suggested that commercial sponsors could still benefit from associating with the competition without discarding its traditional identity.

“In my thinking, sponsors of the ever-changing name of this historic competition would gain more mileage if their names are linked to the original name as a suffix, such as: The Challenge Cup — sponsored by…,” he said.

“Indeed, there is something in a name. The Challenge Cup evolved into a brand, but sadly, our younger generation football managers failed to link it up as such.”

Nigeria’s national cup competition has undergone several name changes over the decades.

It began in 1945 as the Governor’s Cup, initially organised as a Lagos-based tournament. At the Annual General Meeting of the then Nigeria Football Association on February 28, 1955, the competition was renamed the Challenge Cup.

The original trophy was donated by Nigeria’s then Governor-General, Lord Milverton, formerly known as Sir Arthur Richards. He died on October 27, 1978—20 days after Bendel Insurance defeated Rangers International in a dramatic final.

Commercial sponsorship later introduced new identities for the competition. In 1999, it became the Coca-Cola FA Cup. In June 2009, the NFF announced another change, renaming it the Federation Cup.

Further sponsorship deals saw it renamed the Aiteo Cup in 2017 and the NFF/Tingo FederationCup in 2023.

In April 2024, during a ceremony in Lagos, the competition was renamed the President’s Federation Cup, the seventh title since the tournament began eight decades ago.

This year marks the 81st anniversary of the national cup competition, an institution that once stood at the heart of Nigerian football culture.

For Ekeji, reviving its historic identity may be the first step toward restoring the prestige it once commanded across the country.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

The directive was announced on Monday by the NFF Director of Competitions, Ruth David, as preparations gather momentum for the country’s oldest football tournament.

According to the NFF, the state preliminary rounds of the competition will be held from March 22 to April 26 across the country.

The state qualifiers will begin on Sunday, March 22, with clubs required to honour all fixtures once they have completed registration for the competition at the state level.

David explained that any club that fails to appear for a scheduled match after registration during the state preliminaries will be sanctioned with a fine of ₦500,000.

However, clubs that default at the national preliminary stage will face a stiffer penalty of ₦1 million.

She also directed that the final matches in the various state competitions must be played either on Saturday, April 25 or Sunday, April 26.

Following the conclusion of the state finals, each State Football Association and the Federal Capital Territory will be required to submit two representatives to compete in the national phase of the tournament.

The President’s Federation Cup, formerly known as the FA Cup, remains Nigeria’s oldest domestic football competition and traditionally provides clubs from across the country an opportunity to compete for national honours.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

The pulsating final lived up to expectations, ending 2-2 in regulation time after both sides traded goals in a fiercely contested encounter. With no breakthrough in added time, the match proceeded to penalties, where Rivers Angels prevailed 4-2.

This latest triumph reinforces the Port Harcourt-based club’s dominance in Nigerian women’s football. Already one of the most decorated teams in the country, Rivers Angels have now added yet another prestigious trophy to their ever-growing silverware collection.

Their resilience and composure under pressure once again highlight why they remain a benchmark in the domestic women’s game

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

The President Federation Cup final between Kwara United and Abakaliki FC ended goalless after regulation time at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, prompting a shootout to determine the 2024 champion. Kwara United triumphed 4-3 in the tense penalty decider.

This latest penalty shootout marked the 18th time since 1983 that the cup final has gone down to spot kicks. The first such instance was 41 years ago when Enugu Rangers edged DIC Bees of Kaduna 5-4 after a 0-0 draw.

Kwara United’s triumph writes them into Nigerian football history as the 33rd different club to win the country’s oldest football competition, previously known as the Challenge Cup and later the FA Cup.

With the victory, Kwara United also secured a continental ticket and will join Abia Warriors in representing Nigeria in the 2024/25 CAF Confederation Cup.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

In a throwback to the competition’s original identity as the “Governor’s Cup” in 1945, no fewer than four State Governors will grace the final, which pits surprise package Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi State against top-tier Kwara United.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos will serve as host, welcoming his counterparts — Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, and Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd) — to the historic venue.

Also expected at the event are high-ranking government functionaries, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Seyi Tinubu; the President’s Senior Special Adviser on Grassroots Sports Development, Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye; and other prominent figures in the Nigerian political and sports landscape.

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President and WAFU B boss, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, will lead the football governing body’s Executive Committee and Management to the event, while Alhaji Abubakar Lawal will head the delegation from GTI Asset Management, strategic partners of the NFF.

The Lagos State Football Association and the Lagos State Sports Commission will also have a strong presence, with several members of the State Cabinet scheduled to attend. Football greats, including former WAFU President Chief Jonathan Ogufere and sports journalism icon Segun Adenuga, have also confirmed their attendance.

As part of the celebration of Nigeria’s football heritage, the Lagos FA will honour Pa Biliaminu Thanni, the oldest living winner of Nigeria’s national cup competition.

Saturday’s spectacle will kick off with the women’s final at 1 p.m., featuring defending champions Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt against Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia. The men’s final between Abakaliki FC and Kwara United follows at 4 p.m.

The Mobolaji Johnson Arena, formerly known as King George V Stadium, is steeped in history. It hosted the inaugural national cup final in 1945 and remained the sole venue until 1972 when the final had to be replayed in Ibadan after a 2-2 draw between Bendel Insurance and Mighty Jets.

This year’s final promises to be a nostalgic yet contemporary celebration of Nigerian football, enriched by the presence of key political figures and icons of the game.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

A name steeped in Nigerian football history, Onyedika is not just a former Nigeria international striker — he was part of the legendary Green Eagles squad that clinched the country’s first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980.

 But his legacy doesn’t stop there. For decades, he has carved a unique niche as both a Cup-winning player and coach.

In 1981, while playing for Enugu Rangers, Onyedika starred in a fierce Federation Cup final against Bendel Insurance — a rematch of their 1978 clash in which Insurance had triumphed 3-0.

This time, the Flying Antelopes had revenge on their minds at the National Stadium, Surulere. After Emmanuel Osigwe put Rangers ahead, Onyedika doubled the lead, sealing a 2-0 win and erasing memories of their previous defeat.

Two years later, he was again part of the Rangers team that lifted the trophy, overcoming DIC Bees of Kaduna 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw in regulation time — once again at the Surulere ground that had become a fortress of football history.

Fast forward to 2006, and Onyedika reemerged — this time from the dugout — to guide Dolphin FC of Port Harcourt to Federation Cup glory.

Dolphin edged Bendel Insurance 5-3 on penalties after a pulsating 2-2 draw in regulation time at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.

He followed up that triumph the very next year by leading Dolphin to a dramatic win over his old club Enugu Rangers, 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

Now, nearly two decades later, Onyedika is weaving his cup magic once again — this time with little-known Abakaliki FC.

Against all odds, the team has taken down giants like Katsina United, Enyimba FC, Nasarawa United, and Ikorodu City to earn a historic place in Saturday’s grand finale.

Will Onyedika’s storied Federation Cup touch deliver yet another fairy tale finish — this time for a club few saw coming?

Fans across Nigeria are watching, waiting, and hoping to witness yet another chapter in Ifeanyi Onyedika’s legendary love affair with the Federation Cup.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

In a statement released on Wednesday, GTI’s Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, announced that preparations for this year’s double-header finale are in full swing, with a mix of thrilling football and first-rate entertainment set to light up the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos, this Saturday.

Kwara United

“Mobolaji Johnson Arena will come alive with soccer fireworks and thrilling entertainment,” Ekejiuba declared. “Finalists in both the women’s and men’s categories will take center stage, showcasing the talent, grit, and passion that define the spirit of the President Federation Cup.”

Abakaliki FC

In the women’s final, Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt will battle Nasarawa Amazons at 1:00 p.m. in a clash of giants. Rivers Angels, nine-time champions, are aiming for a record-extending 10th title, while Nasarawa Amazons are eager to reclaim the crown they last won in 2019—ironically, by defeating Rivers Angels.

Adding spice to the contest is the presence of Josephine Mathias, now captain of Nasarawa Amazons, who was part of the Rivers Angels team that fell short in that 2019 decider. The match promises a fierce and emotionally charged showdown.

The men’s final, kicking off at 4:00 p.m., features Kwara United and underdog sensation Abakaliki FC, in what many are calling a true David vs Goliath affair. Kwara United booked their place with a narrow 1-0 win over NPFL champions Enugu Rangers, while Abakaliki FC—nicknamed De Rice Boys—have scripted a fairytale run to the final.

The Ebonyi State-based side stunned the football scene by eliminating four NPFL clubs—Katsina United, Enyimba FC, Nasarawa United, and Ikorodu City—after an initial win over Yobe Desert Stars in the Round of 64. Their improbable march has captivated fans nationwide.

Both finals will be streamed live on SuperSport and Propel Sports Africa, ensuring that fans across Nigeria and beyond can enjoy the action from anywhere in the world.

GTI reaffirmed its dedication to growing Nigerian football through purposeful partnerships and investment. “The 2025 President Federation Cup final is another milestone in our journey to revive and elevate Nigerian domestic football,” Ekejiuba concluded.

 Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H