Gata brothers eye historic President Federation Cup triumph with Kwara United

By Wale Mustapha

The Gata family could be on the brink of making history, as brothers Ismaila and Issa Gata aim to lead their boyhood club, Kwara United, to its first-ever national title in the President Federation Cup.

The siblings have been instrumental in the Harmony Boys’ impressive run to the final of the prestigious competition, combining well throughout the campaign — with Ismaila delivering the goals and Issa providing the assists.

Kwara United are set to face surprise finalists Abakaliki FC, dubbed “giant killers,” in the title decider at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos. A date for the final is yet to be confirmed.

For Ismaila Gata, who has played for several top NPFL clubs including Niger Tornadoes, FC Ifeanyi Ubah, Shooting Stars, and Enyimba, winning the cup with Kwara United would be a career-defining moment.

“It’s a great feeling to be part of this club at this time, to be playing in the final. I’m happy to be part of that history,” Ismaila told Nigeriafootball.ng.

“I grew up watching this club as a kid. I’ve played here before with my brother, but it’s more special now that we’re so close to winning something historic.

“We will do everything to make it happen — it’s a reward for the hard work and commitment we’ve put in this season.”

Issa Gata echoed the same sentiment, expressing pride in sharing the journey with his older brother.

“He (Ismaila) is an inspiration, and I always feel honored to be doing this with him again,” Issa said.

“We’ve talked about how important it would be for us to win this cup — not just for ourselves, but for our family, the fans, and the entire state.”

The midfielder emphasized the need for focus as they approach the final hurdle.

“I have confidence in the team. We won’t get carried away with the excitement — the job is not done until we win the cup.”

Kwara United have already secured their NPFL status for next season and will conclude their league campaign with an away fixture against relegation-threatened Katsina United on Sunday.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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