By Wale Mustapha
Kwara United head coach Tunde Sanni has attributed his team’s historic qualification for the final of the 2025 President Federation Cup to their relentless hard work and unwavering determination.
The Harmony Boys secured a 1-0 victory over Rangers International in Wednesday’s semifinal clash at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.
Wasiu Alalade netted the match-winner in the 48th minute, propelling the Ilorin-based side to their first-ever appearance in the cup final.
Speaking after the match, a visibly elated Sanni praised his players for their resilience and commitment throughout the campaign.
“I am excited and happy to achieve this. It wasn’t easy. I’m really proud of this set of players—they deserve to be here,” Sanni said.
“We’ve worked so hard to get here, and we will give it our all in the final.”
Kwara United will now face Nigeria National League (NNL) underdogs Abakaliki FC in the final, which is scheduled to take place at the same venue—Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos—on a date to be announced.
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.
