If you are a football fan who didn’t watch the final of this year’s Federation Cup, you definitely missed one of the most exciting moments in Nigerian football. The final between Abakaliki FC and Kwara United played on Saturday, June 28 at the iconic Onikan Stadium, now Mobolaji Johnson Sports Arena in Lagos, was a great spectacle and a befitting advertisement for Nigerian football.
It is important to reiterate that in recent years, no Federation Cup final has been as entertaining as the last one. The players played as if their lives depended on the glittering trophy that was waiting to be taken home. Football artistry, spiced with youthful vigour and uncommon determination drew loud cheers from the supporters of the two gladiators. The electrifying atmosphere ignited by the mammoth crowd instigated the players to keep going for each other’s jugular in a bid to emerge victorious.
However, at the end of the regulation time, there was nothing to separate the two sides. The final was eventually decided on penalties, and the more experienced Kwara United boys kept their nerves to win 4-3 despite missing the first spot kick. The hero for the “Afonja Warriors” was no doubt the widely travelled and oldest member of the squad, goalkeeper, Surajo Ayeleso Olayiwola, who saved one of the kicks.
That was how the amazing run of the Abakaliki boys who had recorded three victories via penalties ended on a sad note. But it wasn’t a story of failure – it was a proud moment for a team that is less than a year old in Nigerian football. Established in November 2024, the Ebonyi State-sponsored football team wasn’t listed among the favourites when the competition started in February.
Moreover, the “Rice Boys” were gasping for breath in the Nigeria National League (NNL), where they were eventually relegated, even before they took to the field against Kwara United. In fact, at the time they were fighting hard to make history, Abakaliki FC was an amateur club side.
However, in the Federation Cup, the pre-tournament outsiders caused major upsets that sent shock waves across the country. When they eliminated a former NPFL side, Yobe Desert Stars in the Round of 64, no one took them seriously until Katsina United fell to them on penalties in the Round of 32. At that stage, they drew a little attention to their side, but many thought it was initial gara gara until they took out former African champions and Nigeria’s most successful club, Enyimba FC of Aba in the Round of 16. Nobody gave them a chance, but the group of largely inexperienced players achieved that mind-blowing feat in style, winning 2-0 to progress to the quarter-finals.
“By their stunning victories, they had become the giant-killers to be dreaded by those who hitherto underrated them. It was, therefore, no surprise that in their quarter-final match, they edged out Nasarawa United to set up the semi-final clash with Ikorodu City, debutants in both the NPFL and the Federation Cup.
In view of the impressive performances of the Citizens in the NPFL, many thought they would halt the good run of the Abakaliki boys, but that wasn’t to be. They also suffered the fate that had befallen the rest. Ikorodu City were sent packing 5-4 on penalties as the “Rice Boys” zoomed into the final at the first time of asking. Unfortunately, they fell short at the most crucial moment.
Looking at the outings of Abakaliki FC in the Federation Cup and the NNL, it is difficult to understand why they recorded such contrasting performances. Why were they outstanding in the Federation Cup, yet so poor in the league? Does it mean that the NNL is tougher than the NPFL? Imagine a team that defeated four NPFL sides in a row failing to hold their own against NNL clubs. Am I calling for an investigation into why Abakaliki FC failed to survive the NNL? Definitely not, but it is no doubt a curious situation.
Well, on the basis of their outstanding performance in the Federation Cup, I wish someone would buy a slot for the “Rice Boys” to go straight into the NPFL where they deserve to be. I am happy that apart from the N20 million cash prize from the NFF, the governor of Ebonyi State, Mr Francis Nwifuru rewarded the players and officials of Abakaliki FC with N1 million each.
However, I wish His Excellency would go a step further to buy a slot for his heroes to compete in the NPFL next season. This may sound strange to those who are not conversant with Nigerian football, but it is a new normal here. Promotion tickets are not earned on the pitch only, they can be bought as well. Last season, relegated Heartland FC returned to the NPFL through the ticket that was won by Remo Stars academy side, Beyond Limits.
Barring last minute hitches, this year’s NNL Super 8 playoff will kick off this weekend. At the end of the competition, some tickets may be available for the highest bidders. It is an open secret that almost all the clubs that were relegated from the NPFL last season are monitoring the situation. Abakaliki FC, too, can join the queue.
Even as I may be seen as supporting illegality and a short-cut approach, I want to state here categorically that based on their recent performances, it will be painful to see a team like Abakaliki FC competing in the Nationwide League One (NLO) next season. The least that the Ebonyi State Government can do for the boys who took the Federation Cup by storm is to ensure that they continue to play professional football.
The quality of the players in the team is far above amateur football. Among them are talented players who will in no distant future play for the Super Eagles if given the opportunity. A player like Daniel Eni is ripe enough for the Flying Eagles and the Morocco-bound CHAN Super Eagles.
Surely, most of the star players will get better offers within and outside the country, but the remaining ones should be nurtured into a more formidable squad that will continue to make Ebonyi state proud. This can be achieved if the club is well structured. Unfortunately, most clubs in Nigeria exist without structures. They are usually managed haphazardly, most times, by an individual who serves as a sole administrator against FIFA guidelines.
Anyway, from a modest background, the Abakaliki boys managed to etch their names in silver. Pitched against more experienced and desperate opponents in the Federation Cup final, they gave a good account of themselves, thereby winning the hearts of millions of Nigerian football fans.
