For the second successive year, the Mobolaji Johnson
Arena, Lagos will host the grand finale of the President Federation Cup
competition, which is scheduled for Saturday, 28th June.
The compact but dainty facility by the waterfront
hosted last year’s grand finale, in which El-Kanemi Warriors defeated Abia
Warriors to emerge winners of the men’s competition while Rivers Angels edged
Naija Ratels 1-0 in the women’s version. The venue is also the site of the
former King George V Stadium, which was later renamed Lagos City Stadium, and
later known as Onikan Stadium.
Lagos State has hosted a total of 60 grand finales of
Nigeria’s oldest Cup competition, which was known variously in the past as
Governor’s Cup, FA Cup, Challenge Cup and Federation Cup.
Of the 60 Final matches, 18 were staged at the King
George V, between 1945 and 1962. The venue was then renamed Lagos City Stadium,
and continued to host the final matches until 1972, when the clash between
Mighty Jets and Bendel Insurance was stalemated at 2-2 and had to be replayed.
The replay was taken to the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, and that was the first
time the Final was played outside Lagos.
The National Stadium, Surulere, which was built in
1972 to host the 2nd All-Africa Games that Nigeria staged in
1973, commenced hosting of the grand finale in 1974, as there was no
competition in 1973 due to the 2nd All-Africa Games and the
maiden edition of the National Sports Festival.
The National Stadium, Surulere hosted a total of 22
Final matches, with the last Final there in 2002, when Julius Berger defeated
Yobe Desert Stars 3-0 to emerge champions.
Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos hosted eight Final
matches (2007 & 2009, and 2011-2016). The grand finale has also taken place
previously at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi (1989 and 1994), Aper Aku
Stadium, Makurdi (1992 and 2008), Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna (1993, 1997,
2003 and 2019), Rancher Bees Stadium, Kaduna (1998), Sam Ogbemudia Stadium,
Benin City (2004 and 2021), Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt (2005), MKO
Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta (2006), Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano (2010), Agege City Stadium
(2017) and the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba (2018 and 2023).
This year’s grand finale will see surprise packets
Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi taking on Kwara United FC of Ilorin in the men’s final,
while Cup holders Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt will tackle Nasarawa Amazons
of Lafia in a much-anticipated women’s final.
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