By Dayo Awoniyi
Kwara, Kaduna, Enugu, and Bayelsa have booked their places in the semifinals of the 2025 Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Cup, following a compelling round of quarter-final action that highlighted the depth of talent in Nigeria’s grassroots football scene.
Team Kwara delivered the standout performance of the round, dismantling Bauchi 4-0 in a dominant display that reaffirmed the state’s reputation as a football stronghold.
With the win, they now face a formidable Kaduna side, who secured their semifinal berth with a composed 2-0 victory over Kogi.
Elsewhere, Enugu narrowly edged a resilient Kebbi team 1-0, while Bayelsa battled past Niger with a gritty 1-0 triumph.
The stage is now set for an exciting semifinal showdown as Kwara, Kaduna, Enugu, and Bayelsa continue their pursuit of the prestigious CNS Cup title.
CNS Cup 2025 – Semifinal Fixtures:
Kwara vs Kaduna
Enugu vs Bayelsa
Both matches promise thrilling encounters as the four regional powerhouses battle for a coveted spot in the final.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
