Nasarawa United Edge FC Basira to Retain State FA Cup Title

Nasarawa United showed grit and composure to secure a narrow 1-0 victory over city rivals FC Basira in a tense Nasarawa State Football Association President Federation’s Cup final on Sunday at the Lafia City Stadium. The win not only sealed back-to-back titles for the Solid Miners but also confirmed their qualification for the National President Federation’s Cup.

The final was more a battle of discipline and patience than flair, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut chances early on. Nasarawa United were forced into an early setback when promising youngster Benjamin Oloche was substituted in the 19th minute after suffering a shoulder injury from an awkward fall.

The decisive moment came in the 66th minute when in-form midfielder Habibu Alakija capitalized on a well-timed pass from winger Jofrank Istifanus. Alakija kept his composure to fire a low shot past FC Basira goalkeeper Abdulrazak Shehu, breaking the deadlock in a tightly contested encounter.

Late drama nearly changed the outcome, as FC Basira thought they had equalized through John Joshua, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. Their situation worsened shortly after when captain Babangida Mohammed was sent off for a second bookable offence following an unsporting challenge, leaving his side a man down in the closing stages.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, FC Basira pushed forward relentlessly, with Ismail Kana testing the Nasarawa United goalkeeper. However, United’s defense stood firm to preserve a crucial clean sheet.

The victory marks a record 15th State FA Cup triumph for Nasarawa United, who successfully defended the title they won last year against the same opponents. Both finalists will advance to the National President Federation’s Cup, with FC Basira qualifying by virtue of reaching the final.

At the post-match ceremony, Nasarawa State FA Chairman Salisu Usman Galadima presented the trophy to Nasarawa United captain Abubakar Abdullahi.

Habibu Alakija finished as the tournament’s top scorer with three goals, capping off an impressive campaign. Speaking after the match, Technical Adviser Mangut Mbwas praised his team’s resilience and focus.

“Cup finals are decided by fine margins. We stayed patient and took our chance when it came. Retaining this trophy against our neighbours means a lot to us and our supporters,” he said, while also wishing Benjamin Oloche a speedy recovery.

Nasarawa United will now turn their attention to the national stage, aiming to improve on their previous appearances in the National Challenge Cup finals in 2016 and 2021, where they finished as runners-up.

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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