Where the competition began 80 years ago as the Governor’s Cup will again be the theatre of action as the Onikan waterfront arena will again host the President Federation Cup final.

Last year’s final was also held at the now vastly upgraded arena, which before then, last hosted the national competition in 1972.  

Now renamed Mobolaji Johnson Arena from the previous names of Association Ground, King George V Stadium, Lagos City Stadium, and lately Onikan Stadium, the waterfront stadium will host the encounter of Kwara United and Abakaliki FC.

The duel, which recalls a similar Middlebelt versus East Central encounter of 1976, will be played on June 28. In 1976, it was the Alyufsalam Rocks of Kwara versus Enugu Rangers of the old Anambra State, which incorporated the present-day Ebonyi State, where Abakaliki FC is based. At the time, Enugu Rangers comprehensively won against Alyufsalam Rocks, who had nine Ghanaians in their starting line-up.

The match was at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos. This time, the battleground has shifted to Onikan. Will the narratives change?

 The compact but dainty facility by the waterfront hosted last year’s grand finale, in which El-Kanemi Warriors defeated Abia Warriors to winners of the men’s competition, while Rivers Angels edged Naija Ratels 1-0 in the women’s version.

Lagos State has hosted a total of 60 final matches of Nigeria’s oldest Cup competition.

Of the 60 Final matches, 27 were staged at the present waterfront ground between 1945 and 1972. The 1972 final match had to be replayed and moved for the first time, out of Lagos to Ibadan.

With no competition in 1973, the final returned to Lagos the following year, but to a new arena, the National Stadium, Surulere. 

The National Stadium, Surulere hosted a total of 22 Final matches, with the last Final there in 2002, when Julius Berger defeated Yobe Desert Stars 3-0 to emerge champions.

Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos hosted eight Final matches (2007 & 2009, and 2011-2016).

The final has also taken place previously at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi (1989 and 1994), Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi (1992 and 2008), Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna (1993, 1997, 2003 and 2019), Rancher Bees Stadium, Kaduna (1998), Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City (2004 and 2021), Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt (2005), MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta (2006), Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano (2010), Agege City Stadium (2017) and the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba (2018 and 2023).

This year’s grand finale will see surprise packets Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi taking on Kwara United FC of Ilorin in the men’s final, while Cup holders Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt will tackle Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia in a much-anticipated women’s final.

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Strategic partners to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the President Federation Cup (PFC), GTI Asset Management and Trusted Limited have congratulated Abakaliki FC and Kwara United FC for qualifying for the final of the Men’s category of the 2025 edition of the President Federation Cup.

In a press statement made available to journalists in Lagos on Friday by GTI Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, he thumbed up both teams for their hard work, determination and resilience which they demonstrated in their journey to the national finals.

“This year’s competition is symbolic and historic because the last time a Kwara State-based side reached the final stage of this domestic competition was when Alyufsalam Rocks contested the 1976 final game of the then Challenge Cup but lost 2-0 to Enugu Rangers.

However, 49 years later, history is being made as Kwara United surmounted all odds by defeating 2023/2024 NPFL champions, Rangers of Enugu 1-0 in their semi-final tie in Lagos to book a ticket to the final.

“Aside those above, the victory of Abakaliki FC at the semi-final stage against a high-ranking NPFL side, Ikorodu City caught the attention of football stakeholders in the country because the cracker replicated the beauty of the PFC, where the so-called less-rated clubs become giant killers.

“Abakaliki FC dumped Yobe Desert Stars in the Round of 64, and also overcame Katsina United, Enyimba FC and Nasarawa United in subsequent rounds.

“They are now set to face Kwara United in the final,” Ekejiuba said. “We wish them great luck as they prepare for a titanic final clash.”

Given the progress made with the PFC, it provides a veritable platform for corporate brands to collaborate as partners for value exchange.

 Such collaborations will further improve the quality of the PFC in order to deliver more benefits to all stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the expectations are sky-high as the investment banking firm is working closely with the NFF and other stakeholders to present to Nigerian soccer fans an unforgettable football experience on the day of the final. Currently, El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri are the defending champions of the PFC, as they defeated Abia Warriors 2-0 to lift the coveted trophy in the Men’s category of 2024 edition and were rewarded with a cash prize of N50m.

 The final match was played at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.

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A new champion will emerge as the semi-final matches of the President Federation Cup produced unlikely results as favourites, Enugu Rangers and Ikorodu City, crumbled.

In the aftermath, the final match will be contested by Kwara United and Abakaliki FC. It is the first time both teams will be playing the final match of the Nigerian national cup.

However, a team from Kwara, Alyufsalam Rocks, contested the 1976 final match of the then Challenge Cup but lost 2-0 to Enugu Rangers.

Abakaliki FC, an NNL side beat Ikorodu City on penalties, 5-4, after a goalless draw. For Ikorodu City, it is double jeopardy as they had wanted the cup as a route to the CAF Confederation Cup.

The dream of using the Nigeria Premier Football League as a platform for continental slot ended two weeks ago following a 4-1 loss to Remo Stars and a corresponding 2-1 win by fellow third-place contender, Abia Warriors, over El Kanemi.

Wasiu Alalade’s 50th-minute goal against Enugu Rangers sent Kwara United to the final of the President Federation Cup.

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