Inarguably, the story of the just concluded Nigerian football season is El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, who against all odds, regained promotion to the Nigeria topflight and won the President Federation Cup for the third time.
Victory in Nigeria’s oldest club competition also earned the Borno Warriors a ticket to represent the country in CAF’s second tier inter-club competition, the Confederation Cup. They will represent Nigeria along with Enyimba who finished third in the NPFL.
Consequently, there is wild celebration in Borno, following the resurgence of the club that had consistently under-performed in recent years, in both the league and the Federation Cup.
Founded in 1986 by the football-passionate and then Military Administrator of Borno State, Colonel Abdulmumini Aminu rtd (who would later serve as Chairman of the NFA between 1996-1999), El-Kanemi Warriors won their first Nigerian Cup in 1991, when they edged Kano Pillars 3-2 in the first-ever all-northern final at the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos.
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The following year, the Warriors successfully defended their title when they pipped Stationery Stores of Lagos 1-0 at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi. They reached the finals again in 2001, but lost 0-1 to Dolphins of Port-Harcourt at the National Stadium in Surulere.
Sadly, for 31 years, El-Kanemi Warriors had a barren run in the competition they had won back-to-back in 1991 and 1992. However, the Borno Warriors bounced back with a third title after the resounding 2-0 victory over Abia Warriors at the renovated Mobolaji Johnson Sports Arena, which used to be called Onikan Stadium.
They didn’t lift the trophy only, El-Kanemi Warriors also made history as the first club since 1971 to win the trophy at the traditional home ground of the National Cup. The last club to win the prestigious Cup at the stadium was WNDC Shooting Stars of Ibadan who defeated Enugu Rangers 2-1 at Onikan in Lagos.
Although El-kanemi have not won any league title since the club was founded 38 years ago, they have featured twice in the continent by virtue of their victories in the then National Challenge Cup.
In their debut appearance in the Africa Cup Winners competition in 1992, the stumbled and crashed out at the first hurdle. However, in 1993, they went all the way to the semi-finals.
El-kanemi Warriors’ decline began in 2007, when they suffered relegation after over two decades in the Nigerian top flight. However, after five years in the lower division, the Warriors returned to the NPFL in 2012. Unfortunately, due to the outbreak of the Boko Haram insurgency, in 2014, they played their home matches at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano. From 2015 to 2016, El-Kanemi Warriors adopted the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina State, as their home ground and later returned to their stadium in Maiduguri. But after 11 years, El-kanemi were again relegated to the second division of Nigerian professional football league in 2023.
The resurgence
Despite their relegation to the Nigeria National League (NNL), El-Kanemi Warriors went back to the drawing board and immediately returned to the NPFL at the end of the 2024 season. Although, they found themselves in the same group with experienced campaigners like Yobe Desert Stars, Mighty Jets, EFCC Abuja, ABS Ilorin and five others, El-Kanemi Warriors won the group and picked the NNL Super 8 ticket. They eventually won one of the promotion tickets.
El-Kanemi then followed up with victory in the Federation Cup even as they were considered to be outsiders at the beginning of the competition. The Warriors started on a shaky note as they managed to squeeze past unknown De Cardinal FC of Rivers State, 6-5 on penalties in the Round of 64.
However, they braced up to edge Gombe United 3-0 in the Round of 32, stunned NPFL giants 3SC 1-0 in the Round of 16, before stopping Inter Lagos 2-1 in the quarter-finals. In the semi-final, El-Kanemi laboured to a 1-0 win over Kebbi United to set up the final showdown with Abia Warriors.
Even as former winners of the Cup, El-kanemi Warriors weren’t the favourites in the final as they were going up against a more motivated club in the NPFL. However, in the clash of the warriors, El-Kanemi humbled the debutants 2-0 to clinch their third title.
The victories marking the revival of El-Kanemi Warriors have since been attributed to the unflinching support from the government of Borno State and the cordial relationship between the club and the state Football Association.
Speaking to Weekend Trust, the Chairman of Borno State FA, Alhaji Babagana Kalli, said “I am so delighted and excited with the victory of El-Kanemi Warriors. Like you rightly said, it is happening after 32 years. I am one of the happiest individuals on earth because it has happened during my time as the Chairman of the Football Association and we don’t know when it will happen again.
“Secondly, we have to thank his Excellency, the Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, for giving the team all the necessary support to excel.
“The cohesion, cooperation as well as synergy between the FA, the management of El-Kanemi and the Ministry of Sports has made the victory a reality”, he said.
The Borno State FA Chairman and member of NFF Executive Committee also said very soon, El-Kanemi Warriors would be hosted and honoured by the state government.
Borno football fans laud victorious team
Even as the victorious team is waiting to be hosted to a grand reception by the governor of Borno State, the teeming football fans in the state have continued to pour praises on the warriors.
Aliyu Mohammed said he was excited by the victory of El-Kanemi Warriors and called on the state government to give more support to the club.
“I am happy with the hard-earned victory after many years of relentless struggle. It’s an honor for us, the fans.
“We urge the government to further support the team by improving the players’ welfare, upgrading their training camps and stadium, and consider the recruitment of new players to help them maintain this achievement,” Mohammed said.
Another fan, Tukur Walker, congratulated the club and said to avoid another relegation, only quality players should be recruited to beef up the team for the NPFL and continental challenge.
“There is the need for the management of the club to put in place a sound technical crew and recruit good players to strengthen the team. There should be no place in the team for players from politicians,” he said.
On his part, Abu Mario said at least there is something to cheer in the midst of insurgency that has continued to ravage the state.
“Almost everyone is now in a cheerful mood. Despite the insecurity and other challenges confronting us, at last we have something to celebrate. We are all so excited that our beloved club has brought a trophy home,” Mario said.
Bulus Isa said winning the 2024 President Federation Cup for the first time in 32 years was a great achievement for the El-Kanemi Warriors.
“I hope our beloved team will win the CAF Confederation Cup and NPFL title,” he said.
Founding father, Col. Aminu (rtd) congratulates warriors
Meanwhile, the football enthusiast and administrator, Colonel Aminu, who founded El-Kanemi Warriors in 1986 has congratulated the club on the latest victory.
In an interview with our correspondent, the Katsina State born military officer said he was elated that El-Kanemi Warriors were back to winning ways after a long lull.
“I am very happy for them. Right from the time we established the club, I knew that it would be a great club.
“In those days, you would see that first eleven of the national team were from El-Kanemi Warriors, because we used to recruit the best payers from around the country.
“It got to the extent that great players were longing to come to El-Kanemi. Some of them presented themselves, rather than waiting to be invited, because it was an honour to play for the club.
“There were some problems at that time because some people of the state felt that football or sports in general was not among their priorities, but we envisaged that if the youth embraced football, it was not just a game but a business that one could use to earn a living and even help others.
“So, I congratulate El-Kanemi Warriors and advise them to put in more efforts to win the CAF Confederations cup. They should know that for anyone to succeed, they must pray hard and then follow it up with hard work,” he said.
The former NFA chairman also demanded support from Nigerians for El-Kanemi Warriors to do well in the continent in 2025.
“I call on all Nigerians to give them maximum support both in prayers and otherwise, because they are going to represent the country, not just their club or Borno State,” he added.
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