This weekend, Saturday 29 June 2024, the  Nigeria President's Federation Cup which  is the main football single-elimination tournament in Nigeria contested by 74 teams, representing the 36 states including FCT will go for a grab. 

The question in the minds of many football followers in the country will be, who will win the trophy between NPFL side Abia Warriors of Umuahia and NNL side Elkanemi Warriors of Maiduguri.

The Federation cup is the Nigerian domestic cup and the Nigerian equivalent of the FA Cup, Emperor's Cup, Copa do Brasil, Coupe de France, and Hrvatski nogometni kup, among others. The tournament was created in 1945 as the "Governor's Cup", succeeding the War Memorial Challenge Cup that was limited to teams from Lagos

The tournament, as the Governor's Cup, was initially dominated by Lagosian teams, later it was known as the Nigeria FA Cup from (1954–1959), Nigeria Challenge Cup (1960–1998), Coca-Cola FA Cup (1999–2008) and Nigeria Federation Cup (2009–2016). Between 2017 and 2022, the competition was sponsored by the AITEO group and known as the AITEO Cup including the women's tournament.

The history and past winners of the tournament  is as follows: 
- 1942-1954: The tournament was known as the Governor's Cup
- 1954-1959: The tournament was known as the Nigeria FA Cup
- 1960-1998: The tournament was known as the Nigeria Challenge Cup
- 1999-2008: The tournament was known as the Coca-Cola FA Cup
- 2009-2016: The tournament was known as the Nigeria Federation Cup
- 2017-2022: The competition was sponsored by the AITEO group and known as the AITEO Cup
- 2023: The competition was sponsored by the Tingo group and known as the Tingo Cup
- 2024: The tournament became President's Federation Cup

Past winners of the Nigeria Federation Cup include:
- Shooting Stars FC (8 titles)
- Lagos Railways (7 titles)
- Enugu Rangers (6 titles)
- Bendel Insurance (4 titles)

HISTORY OF CLUBS

Abia Warriors FC is based in the city of Umuahia, Abia State.

The club won promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) in August 2013.

History has shown that what is currently known as the Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia started as an amateur side known as the NEPA FC of Umuahia.

Kudos must be given to Basil Udeogu of blessed memory, who then took charge of the club, renamed it Abia Warriors FC of Umuahia, and, through dint of hard work, determination, and commitment, steered the club into the then Nigeria Professional League.

Upon his demise and subsequent promotion of the club from the National Amateur League to the Professional League, Chief Jude Ezechukwu, the erstwhile proprietor of the defunct Jasper United Football Club, was appointed as the first chairman of the club.

Shortly after that, the club was renamed OUK Football Club, and Chief Ifeanyi Iboko became the club chairman, followed by a brief stint by the former Director of Sports in the State, Mr. Ejikeme Ikwunze, who administered the club as a sole administrator.

In 2019, a new board was reconstituted with the election of Pastor Emeka Inyama as chairman. The renowned sports administrator has Mr. Ebere Esiaba as secretary.

Determined to make Abia Warriors one of the best in the land, the club  moved into a modern double-wing duplex befitting a Premier League side, and observers believe that the current Abia Warriors Secretariat located along Ikot Ekpene Road in Umuahia is second to none among its peers.

With all these on the ground, the die was indeed cast and it was not surprising that the club debuted in the Nigeria Premier Football League after it gained promotion from the Nigerian National League after almost 3 seasons of campaigning in the lower rung of Nigerian football.

Worthy of mention in all these achievements is the effort and massive support the club received from its immediate environment, which has demonstrated their belief that top-flight football can be witnessed in Umuahia, the capital city of Abia State.

The team demonstrated its resolve to make an appreciable impact in its debut Premier League season with a superlative performance in the preseason “Super Four” contest held in Abuja to determine the authentic champions of the Nigeria National League, where it made it to the final. Since that time, Abia Warriors has become a household name in Nigerian football.

While all the other three teams with whom it gained promotion to the elite class have since been relegated, Abia Warriors, initially pioneered by veteran tactician Isa Ladan Bosso, took the league by storm as the team remained rooted in the Elite Division of the league for the past 14 seasons.

 In 1994 Football Season, Abia Warriors missed going to continental by whiskers and eventually finished 7th on the 20-team log. Since then, the team has continued to survive the storm to remain in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

 
Apart from Ladan Bosso, Abia Warriors have also attracted other big coaches in Nigerian football like Kennedy Boboye, Okey Emodi, Abdullahi Biffo, Rafel Everton, Henry Makinwa, Emmanuel Deutch, Imama Amakapabo and now Erasmus Onu, all of whom made their mark in the club.

Recently, Abia Warriors recorded another feat by becoming the first Nigeria Premier League club to float a genuine U.13 and U.15 football academy, some of whom are on the club’s scholarship program.

A quest that is geared back to its immediate environment, which has remained steadfast in its support all these years.

In a significant move in July 2023, the board re-constituted with the coming of John Sam Obuh, a prominent figure in Nigerian football management, as the freshly anointed chairman of the club.

Tasked with a mission to make the team strong in football and also have a positive impact on the community and sports in general.

Obuh, a seasoned football technocrat with an illustrious track record spanning over 29 years both on and off the pitch, has embarked on a dedicated mission to overhaul and redefine the trajectory of the club. With a wealth of experience that includes coaching stints with the Nigerian National Team at the U17 and U20 levels and the Nigerian Premier League clubs, Obuh brings formidable expertise to the table.

His vision extends beyond the boundaries of the playing field, as he is committed to orchestrating a comprehensive transformation by engaging key stakeholders and optimizing facilities.

This strategic approach aims to establish a solid foundation for the club’s advancement, with a particular focus on clinching triumphs in various tournaments, notably the highly competitive intercontinental tournaments.

Through a thorough tactical prowess, administrative acumen, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, the club is reaching the final of any major competition in the country for the first time. This is as a result of Obuh's  abilities to  steering the club toward a future defined by achievements and accolades.

ELKANEMI WARRIORS OF MAIDUGURI

El Kanemi Warriors Football Club of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria was founded in 1972, and since then, it has become one of the most successful football clubs in Northern Nigeria.

El Kanemi Warriors Football Club was founded  by the former qgovernor of Borno State, Muhammed Goni. The club was established to bring joy and happiness to the people of Maiduguri and the surrounding areas through football. The club’s first major success came in 1991 when they won the Nigerian Premier League for the first time. Since then, El Kanemi Warriors have won several more league titles, as well as the Nigerian Federation Cup.

El Kanemi Warriors Football Club is one of the most successful clubs in Northern Nigerian football.
 El Kanemi Warriors won the Nigerian Premier League in 1991.
One Nigerian FA Cup title  in 1991.
They have won the Borno State Governor’s Cup severally.

Over the years, El Kanemi Warriors Football Club has produced some of the best players in Northern Nigerian football history. Some of the club’s notable players include:

Garba Lawal: Lawal is a former Nigerian national team midfielder who played for El Kanemi Warriors in the 1990s. He helped the club win the Nigerian Premier League and the Nigerian FA Cup in 1991 and was known for his skill and work ethic on the pitch.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni: Aiyegbeni is a former Nigerian national team striker who played for El Kanemi Warriors in the 1990s. He helped the club win the Nigerian Premier League and was known for his scoring prowess and physicality on the pitch.
Mohammed Gambo: Gambo is a former Nigerian national team midfielder who played for El Kanemi Warriors in the 2000s and 2010s. He helped the club win the Borno State Governor’s Cup several times and was known for his technical ability and vision on the pitch.
Ibrahim Babangida: Babangida is a former Nigerian national team winger who played for El Kanemi Warriors in the 1980s. He helped the club win the Nigerian Premier League and was known for his speed and dribbling skills on the pitch.

Elkanemi Warriors recently won promotion back to the NPFL after being relegated in the 2022/2023 season.