The 2024 edition of the oldest football competition in Nigeria, the Federation Cup formerly called Governor’s Cup, FA Cup and Challenge Cup, is truly living up to expectations in the area of upsets. There is no edition of the once prestigious tournament that has failed to produce minnows who against all odds accounted for the exits of their more illustrious opponents to earn for themselves the title of giant killers. It is, therefore, said the defeat of bigger clubs by smaller opponents usually spice up the competition.
The story is the same in the ongoing Men’s Federation Cup as some of the big teams that were highly favoured to win the competition have been eliminated by their less-endowed opponents. From the Round of 32, Nigerian National League (NNL) side, Wikki Tourists weren’t given any serious chance against Cup holders, Bendel Insurance, but the ‘Bauchi Elephants’ shocked everyone as they sent packing the ‘Benin Arsenals’ from the Federation Cup. It was the first major upset in this year’s competition. It was followed by the elimination of Nasarawa United by the less illustrious Sokoto United. The exit of the ‘Solid Miners’ came to many as a surprise because they have a better pedigree in both Nigerian football and the competition. The defeat of Rivers United by Sunshine Stars on penalties was also surprising because even as they are both Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clubs, Rivers United are more formidable at the moment.
We can say the Round of 32 produced three shocking results but more was witnessed in the next Round where the most successful football club in Nigeria, Enyimba was bundled out by giant killers, Sokoto United in Abuja. When Sokoto United edged out Nasarawa United to set up the clash with Enyimba, many felt it was the end of the road for them but bookmakers were proved wrong once again as the lowly rated United did the unimaginable by eliminating the four-time winners of the Federation Cup.
Apart from the shock exit of Enyimba, another NNL side, Kebbi United ended the run of Akwa United with a slim 1-0 win. The most successful club in the competition, 3SC who have won a record eight titles also fell 0-1 to another NNL side, Elkanemi Warriors. Although both are in the NNL, Wikki Tourists who are miles ahead in terms of football pedigree were arrested by EFCC FC Abuja. Indeed, most people didn’t see some of the results coming because of the general belief that the NPFL clubs which are desperate for continental football would do everything to beat the minnows.
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Personally, I am not surprised by the upsets in the Round of 32 which have seen at least five NNL clubs qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Federation Cup. This has been the tradition in the competition and more shocking results should be expected as we go into the final eight. According to the fixtures released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), giant killers Sokoto United will seek to continue with their winning streak against NPFL side, Abia Warriors, Kebbi United will lock horns with EFCC, former champions, El-Kanemi Warriors battle Inter-Lagos while two NPFL clubs, Kano Pillars and Sunshine will slug it out for one of the semi-final tickets. Without a doubt, the most successful among the clubs that are still standing in the competition is Kano Pillars who are three-time winners of the Cup.
A look at the Quarter-final pairings shows that by the time the Round is concluded not more than two NPFL clubs would be left in this year’s Federation Cup. If Abia Warriors fail to scale the hurdle of Sokoto United, then we would have only one NPFL club; either Kano Pillars or Sunshine Stars to fight for the ticket to the final. Therefore, the chances of a National League to win the Federation Cup are quite high and this has not gone down well with some people who have criticised the NFF for its failure to seed the top clubs. Such critics have blamed the early exits of a big club like Rangers International of Enugu on the ‘poor draws’ which pitched them early with another top team like Kano Pillars in the Round of 64. The argument is that if seeded, some of the big clubs with potential to be worthy representatives in the continent wouldn’t have met one another so early in the competition. According to such critics, the present draw format would ultimately produce a weak club for Nigeria in the Confederation Cup.
Well, while I share in the sentiments of those who feel strongly that the NFF has inadvertently positioned weak clubs to qualify to represent the country in the continent, it is also necessary to say that the desire to have one of the big clubs representing Nigeria in the continent shouldn’t stop anyone from appreciating the performances of the NNL clubs. The victorious clubs deserve their flowers. After all, what have the NPFL clubs that represented Nigeria in the past achieved in the continent? They hardly go beyond the preliminary Rounds of the Confederation Cup. I, therefore, feel that those who are feeling that a faulty fixtures arrangement by the NFF has favoured NNL clubs are either oblivious of the strength of the lower division clubs or are intentionally economical with the truth.
It is important to reiterate that even before now, I vehemently opposed the bad behaviour of State FAs that stage ‘arangee final’ matches of the Federation Cup because it denied smaller clubs the opportunity to make history. Going by the way the lower division clubs have demystified some of the NPFL big names, there is every need for the NFF to ensure that State FAs desist from randomly picking teams to play the final at the state level. For instance, in order to beat the deadline given by the NFF, the Benue State Football Association hurriedly arranged the final match between the only NPFL club in the state, Lobi Stars and NLO club, Flight FC. In the end, both clubs came to the national level but Lobi Stars got knocked out in the Round of 32 while Flight FC couldn’t even surmount the first hurdle. Did Benue State produce worthy representatives in the Federation Cup? The answer is obvious. So, the excellent performances of the NNL clubs against the so called big teams in the NPFL have vindicated those of us who have consistently advocated for the Federation Cup to be properly organised from the state to the national level.
Anyway, whatever anyone feels about the brilliant outings by the NNL clubs is not going to erase the fact that pre-competition favourites have since fallen victims of the underdogs. Since there is no need to keep crying over spilled milk, the remaining NPFL clubs, Sunshine Stars, Abia Warriors and Kano Pillars must tighten their loins very well or be ready to suffer the same fate that befell their classmates. Even if the likes of Sokoto United, Kebbi United, Inter Lagos and EFCC have nothing serious to lose, the NPFL trio has everything to lose in the looming Federation Cup quarter-final matches. For now, the giant killers, Sokto United and Kebbi United should take a bow as they wait for their next victims.
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