Rangers go head-to-head with Kwara United in a high-stakes encounter in the semi-finals of this year’s President Federation Cup on Wednesday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena. Lagos.
The match pits two Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) sides against each other, with a place in the final of the country’s oldest football competition up for grabs.
Both teams come into the fixture on the back of hard-earned victories in the quarter-finals, Rangers narrowly edged Plateau United 1–0 in Abuja, while Kwara United saw off Akwa United.
Rangers, six-time winners of the cup, are returning to the final for the second time in three years and hoping to win for the first time since their dramatic 2018 triumph, famously dubbed the ‘Asaba Miracle’, when they overturned a three-goal deficit against Kano Pillars before winning on penalties.
The Enugu club also boasts titles from 1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, and 1983.
Kwara United, meanwhile, are hoping to make history of their own by reaching the final for the first time.
Their run to the last four has drawn praise, and they will be aiming to continue that momentum against a traditionally strong Rangers side.
Ahead of the clash, Rangers’ defender Effimi Nsi expressed confidence in his team’s preparation and focus.
‘We are ready to face any club in the Federation Cup’, he said.
‘We don’t fear any team but respect all. I can assure our supporters that we are fully prepared to reach the final’.
The encounter is expected to be closely contested, with both sides carrying strong ambitions and support into the match. The winner will advance to the final of the 2025 Federation Cup, scheduled for a later date.
In the other men’s semi-final, Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi State take on Lagos-based Ikorodu City at the FIFA Goal Project pitch in Bwari, Abuja, also today.
