At the event, Cup holders, Rivers Angels, will confront Nasarawa Amazons in the women’s final, before ‘giant-killers’ Abakaliki FC tango with Kwara United in the men’s final.

A colourful occasion is afoot by the Lagos Waterfront with Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq also confirmed to be in attendance, while the number one citizens of Nasarawa, Ebonyi and Rivers State may also be in attendance or send high-powered delegations.

It is the first time that a team from Ebonyi State, which was created in October 1996, will reach the final of Nigeria’s national Cup competition, while it is the first time in 49 years that a team from Kwara State, which was created in 1967, will show up at the final of the competition.

In 1976, little-known Alyufsalam Rocks of Ilorin decimated more illustrious clubs across the country to reach the final of what was then known as the Challenge Cup, losing 2-0 to Rangers International of Enugu.

READ ALSO: FG, NUJ on Yahaya Bello: Insensitivity, impunity or what?

Today’s Ebonyi State was created from parts of Enugu and Abia states.

This year, Abakaliki FC have turned out to be the surprise packets.

The club has continued to show disdain for big names, and have, like Kwara State’s Alyufsalam Rocks 49 years ago, sailed into the final at the expense of fabulous names in the football establishment.

NPFL clubs, Katsina United (who fell 2-3 after penalty kicks in the Round of 32), two-time African champions Enyimba FC (grilled 2-0 in the Round of 16), Nasarawa United (bumped in the quarter finals following 4-5 penalty-kicks defeat) and Ikorodu City (whose sweet song was truncated after another 4-5 penalty-kicks defeat in the semi-finals) were the victims, after Yobe Desert Stars were cut out in the Round of 64.

The club is financed by Senator Joseph Obinna Ogba, a former Chairman of Ebonyi State Football Association, one-time vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation and a two-term Senator of the Federal Republic.

Although Kwara United had a foretaste of Ebonyi opposition earlier in the competition, when they dismissed Cynosure FC in the Round of 64, they will do well not to take anything for granted against Abakaliki FC when the whistle goes for kick-off inside the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.

Nicknamed Afonja Warriors, the progress of Kwara United, coached by Tunde Sanni to this year’s final has attracted the keen interest of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari and indeed persons in high and low places in the entire Kwara State.

“I was once an official of Shooting Stars (another top-tier club based in Ibadan) and the Nigeria Football Federation. I know what is at stake in a crucial match like this. Prepare well, remain focused and stay united. We will continue to pray for your success,” were the words of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari to the team before the contingent departed for Lagos.

The post President Federation Cup: Sanwo-Olu, others set for grand finale appeared first on Frontpageng.

These matches will be followed by the draw ceremony for the national competition on Wednesday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

The competition which involves the two representatives of each of the country’s 36 states and the FCT had ended abruptly in 2022.

This was after a disagreement between the organisers, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, and the participating clubs over the competition’s prize money.

With the Federation Cup winners picking Nigeria’s second CAF Confederation Cup ticket, NFF had to nominate Kwara United of Ilorin which finished fourth in the 2021/2022 NPFL to represent Nigeria.

This year, it has taken the NFF so much time to finally arrive at starting the national competition.

This was in spite of several of the qualifiers having emerged from the state FA Cup finals since late March.

A few of the qualifiers however just emerged some days ago, while one of the states did not even have qualifiers, leaving the competition with only 72 participants instead of 74.

After the national playoffs however, the eight winners will join 56 other participants in the draw to proceed to the Round of 64 scheduled for April 26.

The Round of 32 matches have been scheduled for May 3, with the Round of 16 slated for May 10 and the quarter-finals to take place on May 17.

The semi-finals will come up on May 24, with the grand finale on May 27.

National Playoff Fixtures:

Novia FC (Adamawa) vs Ashana FC (Taraba) —  Pantami Stadium, Gombe

Katukan Tsafe FC (Zamfara) vs Yelwa United (Kebbi) —  Giginya Memorial Stadium, Sokoto

Smart City Feeders (Lagos) vs Bendel Insurance Feeders (Edo) —  Ilorin Township Stadium

Kogi United Feeders (Kogi) vs Lautai FC (Jigawa) —-  Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna

FR Ebunuju (Imo) vs PCM FC (Ebonyi) — Awka Township Stadium

Osevan FC (Delta) vs Ahudiya FC (Abia) — Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo

Red & Black FC (Benue) vs Edel FC (Anambra) —  Akanu Ibiam Stadium, Owerri

ABJ FC (Bauchi) vs Nya-Sa Gwang FC (Taraba) — Fufure Stadium, Yola.

Source: NAN

The post Federation Cup finally gets underway on Tuesday appeared first on Frontpageng.