Sports
President Federation Cup: Abakaliki FC stun Ikorodu City to romp into final as NNL boss Aluo hails team
Nigeria National League (NNL) side Abakaliki FC cemented their status as the giant killers of the 2025 President Federation Cup after edging out Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Ikorodu City FC in a dramatic penalty shootout at the Bwari Township Stadium, Abuja.
The tightly contested Semifinal clash ended goalless in regulation time, but it was the Salt City boys who held their nerve to triumph 5-4 on penalties, sending shockwaves across the Nigerian football landscape.
The victory marked yet another scalp for Abakaliki FC, who have already knocked out top-tier sides including Katsina United , Nasarawa United, and Enyimba International in this year’s tournament.
Speaking after the thrilling encounter, Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), George Aluo, lavished praise on the Ebonyi State team for their remarkable journey so far in the competition.
“Abakaliki FC’s run is a clear statement that the NNL is producing quality football. This is not a fluke. They have beaten some of the best teams in the country and deserve to be where they are,” Aluo said. “They have shown resilience, technical quality, and mental toughness. I urge them to stay focused and go all the way.”
Aluo also referenced El-Kanemi Warriors, another NNL side, who famously lifted the trophy last season after beating NPFL side Abia Warriors, suggesting a changing tide in the balance of power between the country’s two top leagues.
Also in attendance was NPFL Chairman, Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye, who, despite the defeat of a top-tier team, was full of admiration for the underdogs.
“What we’ve witnessed today is the beauty of the Federation Cup. Abakaliki FC played with heart, and their composure during the shootout was commendable,” Elegbeleye said. “This also affirms that the NNL is not just a feeder league but the heartbeat of Nigerian football development.”
The electrifying contest drew a crowd of top football dignitaries, including NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, NFF Second Vice President Gbenga Elegbeleye, NNL CEO Emmanuel Attah, and former Lobi Stars chairman Dominic Iorfa, all of whom commended the level of competition and the quality of football on display.
With the semifinal hurdle now behind them, Abakaliki FC turn their attention to the grand finale, where they will lock horns with Kwara United, in a mouthwatering clash that will decide who lifts Nigeria’s oldest and most prestigious football trophy.
As anticipation builds, one thing is certain: Abakaliki FC have earned their place on the national stage, and they are not done yet. If they can pull off one more upset, the Salt City boys will write their names in Nigerian football history.
Sports
Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney
Joel Ajayi
The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Jibril Seidu, has said the federation will continue to intensify its grassroots talent development drive through zonal competitions across the country.
Seidu stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the finals of the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship, where Plateau Vipers defeated Suleja Shooters 29-24 to emerge champions in the men’s category.
In the women’s final, Benue Queens of Makurdi defeated City Queens of Suleja to claim the title.
The eight-day tournament featured teams from across the North Central Zone, with Plateau Vipers of Jos, Confluence Stars of Lokoja, Unity Boys of Abuja, Suleja Shooters and Nasarawa Ambassadors of Lafia competing in the men’s category.
In the women’s category, Nuela Handball Academy of Ilorin, Inikpi Babes of Idah, Benue Queens of Makurdi and City Queens of Suleja competed for honours.
At the end of the competition, four teams — two male and two female — emerged as the North Central Zone’s representatives for the national Division One league.
According to Seidu, the tournament was organised as part of the federation’s deliberate strategy to take handball development back to the regions and discover talents that might otherwise remain unnoticed.
He said the HFN board, inaugurated on October 25, 2025, resolved that grassroots development was essential to creating a sustainable pipeline of players for national and international competitions.
“All the teams you have seen here are from the North Central Zone of the country, and every state is represented with an academy or state team,” he said.
Seidu explained that the new approach marked a departure from the previous system, where talent identification was largely centred on the federation’s major league competitions.
He said taking competitions to the regions would provide young players with greater opportunities to showcase their abilities while strengthening the foundation of handball across the country.
The HFN president also linked the grassroots initiative to Nigeria’s recent achievements in international handball, stressing the need to develop younger players who can eventually replace members of the current national teams.
He noted that Nigeria had qualified for the 2027 Men’s Junior Handball World Championship in North Macedonia, describing the achievement as evidence of the potential within the country’s handball system.
“How do we replace these players with upcoming players? This is the avenue for us to get players,” he said.
Seidu added that the federation was determined to make handball more visible and accessible, describing it as one of Nigeria’s major sporting disciplines with significant potential for growth.
The North Central tournament is part of a wider zonal programme designed to decentralise handball development across Nigeria.
According to the federation, similar competitions are being organised across other zones, including the South East, North East, North West and South South, with qualifiers from each zone expected to converge at a designated venue for the next stage of the competition.
The federation also appealed for greater support from sponsors, stakeholders and state associations to sustain its grassroots development programme.
It expressed appreciation to the participating states, academies, team sponsors and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the growth of handball in Nigeria.
The federation said the initiative would provide a platform for discovering the next generation of Nigerian handball stars while expanding the sport’s reach beyond its traditional centres.
While Speaking the elated coach of Benue Queen Godwin Tondo has promised a stronger and more tactical performance after guiding the team to victory at the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship in Abuja.
He attributed the success to the team’s long-term youth development programme, noting that the squad was built through a deliberate process of identifying and nurturing young talents.
According to him, the programme began with the selection of 92 girls from secondary schools, who were subsequently trained and developed over a four-year period.
He said the team’s success was a product of sustained hard work and commitment despite the challenges encountered during preparations for the tournament.
“I feel very pleased being a champion today. The road to this stage was very, very hard, but I am very happy that we have got the result from all the toughness of the game,” he said.
-
Featured7 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured6 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured7 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured7 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured5 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Featured7 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
-
Sports4 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News2 years agoZulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
