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Obi Ogbala relishes historic President Federation Cup final berth

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1:06 am

Obi Ogbala relishes historic President Federation Cup final berth

Head coach of Heartland Queens, Obi Ogbala, has expressed immense joy after guiding his team to the final of the 2026 President Federation Cup, describing the achievement as a reward for hard work, determination, and unwavering support from stakeholders.

The Owerri Landladies became the first women’s team from South Eastern part of the country to make it to the President Federation Cup final after a 2-1 win over FC Robo Queens.

Speaking after securing a place in the final, Ogbala said he was delighted to have steered the Imo State side to one of the biggest matches in Nigerian women’s football.

“I feel elated and happy leading Heartland Queens to the final of the 2026 President Federation Cup. It is not an easy one. Many teams started the competition, but we have made it to the final,” he told www.savidnews.com

The tactician revealed that reaching the final had always been one of his major objectives for the season, alongside qualifying for the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership Super Six.

“Yes, I expected it. All the 32 teams wanted to be in the final. From the beginning of the season, I targeted success in both the NWFL Premiership and the President Federation Cup. Although we missed out on the NWFL Super Six, I shifted my full attention to the Federation Cup, worked harder, and the result is there for everyone to see,” Ogbala stated.

Girls' soccer team in red uniforms standing in a line on the field, raising hands in celebration with a coach in a black jersey at center and stadium stands behind them.

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Ogbala also credited the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, for providing the motivation and support that inspired the team’s success.

“I won’t take anything away from His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma. He has been the motivating factor behind my success because he stood by me and gave me all the support I needed,” he said.

The Heartland Queens coach further praised his players for their commitment and hunger to make history, while acknowledging the encouragement he received from the club’s supporters and his family.

“I told the girls they could make history, and their performance and seriousness motivated me. I also motivated myself because reaching the podium would be a plus for my career. The prayers and support from Imolites, our fans, supporters, and my immediate family also kept me going,” Ogbala concluded.

Ogbala’s side will face last year’s beaten finalists, Nasarawa Amazons in the final.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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