Kwara United, ABS FC rekindle rivalry in Kwara State FA Cup final 

By Wale Mustapha

The 2023 Kwara State FA Cup men’s final will see the familiar foes and city rivals between Abubakar Bukola Saraki, ABS FC and Kwara United.

Both teams have a contrasting outing in their semifinal engagements early on Sunday in Ilorin as Kwara United had to labor hard before securing the final place with a 3-2 win over SGFC Athletic Sports team.

Both teams canceled each other out in the first half with two goals each as the Nationwide League One, NLO side proved hard nut to crack for Kwara. SGFC came back to level matters on two occasions with Musa Abdulafeez and captain Anthony Jegede canceling out goals from Anthony Omaka and Samad Kadiri.

Kwara United coach, Kabir Dogo beckoned on his super sub, Godwin Oshagbemi and Mohammed Ibrahim in place of Anthony Omaka and Issa Gata on resumption of the second half, and the former returned the favour with perfect header from Sani Faisal’s cross proving decisive for the Harmony Boys.

ABS FC humbled a non-league side, Foresight Academy by 5-1 in the second semifinal encounter played at the same Kwara Football Academy, KFA pitch. Quick fire goals from Ayoku AbdulRahman, Malik Srajudeen, Raheem Sa’ad and Jamiu Sa’ad had put the NNL side in firm control.

Foresight Academy got their only goal through Wale Ishola, who converted a penalty in the 70th minute, before Wisdom Hyginus rounded it up with a volley inside the box, to make it 5-1.

Kwara United, who are the defending champions will take on ABS Ilorin FC in the final on Wednesday March 15, 2023, at the Kwara Football Academy by 4.00pm.

There will be FA Cup women’s final between Kwara Ladies FC and Moje Queens of Erin-Ile by 2pm before the men’s final at the same venue.

The two finalists already secured their places in the national finals by virtue of reaching the state finals.