By Wale Mustapha
Head coach of Abakaliki FC, Ifeanyi Onyedika, has expressed pride in his team’s remarkable run to the final of the 2025 President Federation Cup, declaring that their performances have proven they can compete with Nigeria’s top clubs.
The lower-league side, nicknamed The Rice Boys, have been the surprise package of this year’s tournament, eliminating several Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) heavyweights, including Enyimba, Rivers United, Nasarawa United, and Ikorodu City.
Their semifinal triumph came via a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout win over Ikorodu City, securing a historic place in the final against Kwara United. The title match is scheduled to take place at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos, on a date yet to be confirmed.
Speaking after the semifinal, Onyedika praised his players for their fearless attitude and determination throughout the campaign.
“I’m very happy, absolutely elated. I’m proud of these players—they gave their best,” he told Complete Sports.
“They held their confidence high, refusing to be intimidated by a so-called ‘Premier League’ team. They stood their ground firmly.”
He added: “We entered this competition as underdogs, but now nobody can question our giant-killers’ credentials. Yes, we’ve proved we can compete and hold our own against any team, despite our NNL status.”
The final will feature two clubs—Abakaliki FC and Kwara United—neither of whom has previously won the Federation Cup, setting the stage for a potential fairytale ending.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey 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.
