Tunde Sanni confident as Kwara United eye historic President Federation Cup victory

By Dayo Awoniyi

Kwara United head coach, Tunde Sanni, has expressed strong confidence ahead of his team’s clash with Abakaliki FC in the final of the 2024 President Federation Cup, set for Saturday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.

Speaking during a pre-match press conference organized by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Sanni said he feels no pressure and believes his players are fully prepared—both mentally and physically—for the high-stakes encounter.

“We are well prepared, and the boys are in great shape,” said the former Kwara United captain.

“I am not under any pressure. My team is battle ready mentally and physically. The boys know what is at stake.”

Sanni’s motivation runs deeper than just professional ambition. Having never lifted the Federation Cup during his playing days, the coach now has a chance to lead his hometown team to its first-ever national cup title.

“We never won this trophy during my playing days, but now as the coach, I want to do it for Kwara. This is our time,” he stated.

While acknowledging the quality of opponents Abakaliki FC, Sanni stressed that Kwara United will not take anything for granted.

“We are not underrating Abakaliki FC. They are a good side, and that’s why they’re in the final. But we are not afraid of them. We will go in with absolute concentration and commitment,” he added.

Kwara United captain Kabir Mohammed echoed his coach’s optimism, assuring fans that the team is focused and injury-free ahead of the showdown.

“There are no injury worries in camp,” said Mohammed. “Everyone is focused, and we are going into the match with 100% attention and determination to bring the trophy home.”

The match is scheduled to kick off at 4:00 PM on Saturday. A win would mark a historic moment for Kwara United, securing the club’s first-ever President Federation Cup title and etching a new chapter in the state’s football history.

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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