Abakaliki FC have booked a place in their first ever President Federation Cup final after a dramatic 4–3 penalty shootout win over Ikorodu City FC on Wednesday at the Bwari Stadium, Abuja.
The semi-final ended goalless in regulation time, with both teams showing grit but unable to break the deadlock. The tie was settled from the spot, where Abakaliki FC held their nerve, converting four of their five penalties while Ikorodu City missed two out of six attempts.
The result ends Ikorodu City’s hopes of securing continental football next season. They had narrowly missed out on a CAF Confederation Cup slot in the Nigeria Premier Football League, finishing just outside the qualification spots. The Federation Cup was their last route and Abakaliki FC slammed that door shut.
It has been a fairy tale journey for the underdogs from Ebonyi State. Known as the ‘Rice City Boys’, they shocked former champions Enyimba FC in the quarter-finals and now stand one win away from a historic title.
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Abakaliki FC await the winner of the other semi-final between Kwara United and Rangers International in what promises to be a blockbuster final.
Editorial
This is what cup football is all about the underdog rising from obscurity to challenge giants and redefine what’s possible. Abakaliki FC’s stunning march to the President Federation Cup final is not just a feel-good story it’s a statement of belief, perseverance, and the power of community-rooted football.
Let’s not sugar-coat it very few gave them a chance when the competition began. Yet here they are, having dumped out heavyweights like Enyimba and Ikorodu City, clubs with bigger budgets and greater reputations. But reputation doesn’t win trophies resolve does.
What makes this moment even more poetic is that this team, currently fighting relegation in the second-tier NNL, now has a shot at representing Nigeria in continental competition. It’s absurd. It’s thrilling. It’s football.
We believe Abakaliki FC’s journey is not just inspiring for their supporters it’s a mirror for every grassroots club dreaming of glory. With the right spirit, discipline, and unity, dreams do take flight — even from the least expected places.
This final won’t just decide a trophy. It will define a legacy. And whether or not Abakaliki FC go all the way, their story has already enriched Nigerian football.
Did You Know?
- Abakaliki FC’s nickname, the ‘Rice City Boys’, comes from Ebonyi State’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s top rice-producing regions.
- The Bwari Stadium in Abuja, where the semi final was held, is a regular venue for NNL and amateur league matches but rarely hosts national semi-finals.
- Ikorodu City FC was founded in 2017 and has quickly risen through the ranks of Nigerian football.
- A Federation Cup win guarantees a direct spot in the CAF Confederation Cup regardless of league standing.
- Abakaliki FC have never finished in the top half of the NNL since their promotion to the second division.
