Gov Abdulrazaq rewards Kwara United with ₦5m each after historic Federation Cup win

By Dayo Awoniyi

Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has approved a ₦5 million cash reward for each player and official of Kwara United following their historic triumph in the 2025 President Federation Cup—Nigeria’s oldest and most prestigious domestic football competition.

The Ilorin-based club, popularly known as the Harmony Boys, lifted the coveted trophy for the first time in their history after edging Abakaliki FC 4-3 on penalties in a dramatic final played in June.

The landmark victory not only ended the club’s decades-long wait for silverware but also secured them a spot in the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup, firmly placing Kwara United on the continental football map.

Governor Abdulrazaq, who has received widespread praise for his administration’s commitment to youth and sports development, announced the monetary reward during a state reception held in honour of the team.

“This is a reward for your hard work, resilience, and making history for Kwara State. You have done the state proud,” the Governor was quoted as saying.

The ₦5 million bonus per player and technical crew member amounts to a total payout running into hundreds of millions of naira. It is expected to serve as a strong morale boost as the team prepares for its continental campaign.

Kwara United’s Federation Cup triumph represents a significant milestone in the club’s recent resurgence, which has seen them evolve from mid-table league performers to national champions—thanks to a renewed state-backed football development initiative.

With continental football now on the horizon, supporters and football analysts are hopeful that this victory marks the beginning of a new golden era for Kwara football.

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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