Former champions, El-Kanemi Warriors and Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) giants, Rivers Angels, are inarguably the favourites as they battle Abia Warriors and Naija Ratels respectively in the grand finale of this year’s Federation Cup competition.
The men and women’s final of the oldest football competition in Nigeria will be held today at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Arena in Lagos.
The renovated arena which used to be called Onikan Stadium had played host to so many finals of the once prestigious football competition.
While El-Kanemi Warriors who are two-time winners of the Cup are eying their third title, Abia Warriors will be playing and praying for their first victory in the Federation Cup.
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The last time El-Kanemi Warriors tasted victory in the Federation Cup was in 1992 when it was called the Challenge Cup.
Founded in the late mid-1980s, by the football-passionate then military governor of Borno State, Col. Abdulmumini Aminu (who would later serve as Chairman of then NFA between 1996 and 1999), El-Kanemi Warriors won their first Nigeria Cup in 1991, when they defeated Kano Pillars 3-2 in the first-ever all-northern final at the National Stadium, Surulere.
The following year, the Warriors successfully defended their title when they pipped Stationery Stores 1-0 at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi.
In their third final in 2001, they lost 0-1 to Dolphin of Port Harcourt at the National Stadium, Surulere.
So, 23 years later, El-Kanemi Warriors are in the final again and will fancy their chances of a third title against Abia Warriors who are reaching their first-ever final.
While El-kanemi Warriors have just regained promotion to the Nigerian topflight, Abia Warriors competed in the NPFL in the just concluded season.
Although history favours El-Kanemi Warriors, the clash of the warriors may go either way because both clubs are highly motivated to fight for the coveted trophy.
In the women’s final which will serve as the curtain raiser, serial winners, Rivers Angels with eighth titles are favoured to secure their ninth crown against debutants, Naija Ratels.
However, the newcomers who emerged as giant killers in this year’s Federation Cup are also talking tough as they still fancy their chances of winning against their more endowed opponents.
The coach of Naija Ratels, Bankole Olowookere, has said they are not afraid of the former champions.
“For sure, we are the distinct underdogs against Rivers Angels that have won this trophy eight times before now. But no team is unbeatable. We have a plan and a strategy to emerge champions on Saturday.
“We want to do this for our proprietor and for our supporters who have been with us through victory and defeat, through thick and thin. I can assure you that Naija Ratels are determined to make history.”
His counterpart, Whyte Ogbonda has said his girls, who include in their ranks Nigeria U20 girls’ forward Blessing Okpe and Flamingos’ forward Peace Effiong, will not underrate Naija Ratels, but will go all out to accomplish victory.
“Yes, Rivers Angels have always reached the women’s final of the Cup, and here we are again. Our target is to lift the trophy and bring it back to Rivers State, having lost the opportunity to win the league,” he said.
The women’s final will kick off at 1pm at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, with the men’s final to commence at 4pm.
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