El-Kanemi Warriors and Nasarawa Amazons underlined their pedigree by defeating first-time finalists Ikorodu City and Heartland Queens respectively to claim the men’s and women’s President Federation Cup titles in Asaba on Saturday.
The experienced campaigners proved too strong for their ambitious opponents, with El-Kanemi edging Ikorodu City 1-0 in the men’s final, while Nasarawa Amazons defeated Heartland Queens 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
At the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Heartland Queens, who had eliminated FC Robo Queens in the semi-finals, took the lead early in the second half through Chizoba Johnson after a goalless opening period.
However, Coach Christopher Danjuma’s Nasarawa Amazons responded through Judith Adaobi to force the match into a penalty shoot-out, where the Lafia side held their nerve to prevail 6-5 after sudden death.
The victory secured Nasarawa Amazons’ third Federation Cup title, having previously won the competition in 2005 and 2019. The club also reached the 2025 final but lost 4-2 on penalties to Rivers Angels at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
Speaking after the match, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Yakubu Kwanta, revealed that Governor Abdullahi Sule closely followed the final from Texas and spoke with the players before and after the game.
“It was as if the Governor was here with us. We were in constant communication throughout the match, and he also spoke with the players in the dressing room before congratulating them after the victory,” Kwanta said.
He praised Governor Sule’s commitment to sports development in the state and also acknowledged the support of President Bola Tinubu, saying it had encouraged the state government to continue investing in sports.
In the men’s final, El-Kanemi Warriors secured victory through Muktari Ismail’s first-half penalty, withstanding sustained pressure from Ikorodu City after the break to lift the trophy.
The triumph earned the Maiduguri club a place in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup alongside Shooting Stars, who qualified after finishing third in the Nigeria Premier Football League.
It was El-Kanemi Warriors’ fourth major domestic title and their second Federation Cup triumph in three seasons. They also became the first club since Akwa United, between 2017 and 2019, to win two Federation Cup titles within a three-season span.
The victory was particularly significant as El-Kanemi Warriors secured continental qualification despite suffering relegation to the Nigeria National League. They became the first Nigerian club since the then Dolphins FC, now Rivers United, to qualify for continental competition after relegation.
