Kwara United head coach Wasiu Sanni has set his sights on delivering a long awaited Federation Cup victory for his team and the people of Kwara State. The Afonja Warriors are poised to make history in the upcoming final against Nigeria National League (NNL) side Abakaliki FC, a team that has stunned higher-tier opposition throughout the competition.
The last time a team from Kwara State reached the final was in 1976, when the now defunct Alyufsalam Rocks lost 2-0 to Enugu Rangers. Nearly 50 years later, Sanni a former captain of Kwara United believes the stars are finally aligning for Ilorin’s finest.
“It’s been over 40 years since a Kwara team made it this far. Everyone is excited,” Sanni said after his side’s hard-fought 1–0 semi-final win over Rangers at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos. “We thank God for this opportunity, and I’m very proud as a Kwaran.”
While many analysts are tipping Abakaliki FC to cause another upset following their eliminations of Katsina United, Enyimba, and Nasarawa United, Sanni is undeterred. “It’s well deserved. We’ve worked hard to be here, and now that we’ve made it to the final, we want to win it.”
Victory would secure Kwara United’s first-ever Federation Cup title and etch this generation of players into Nigerian football folklore.
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Editorial
There are moments in football that go beyond the pitch moments where history, identity, and community collide. For Kwara United and coach Wasiu Sanni, this Federation Cup final is one of those defining moments.
We believe Sanni’s journey from club captain to potential history maker embodies the soul of Nigerian football. His passion isn’t driven by contracts or trophies alone; it’s rooted in a deep-seated love for his people and his club. And that’s why this story matters.
Kwara State has waited nearly five decades for this opportunity. This isn’t just about silverware it’s about redemption, recognition, and rewriting a narrative that has long been frozen in time. While Abakaliki FC’s Cinderella story deserves respect, Sanni and his Warriors represent something even more profound: a legacy finally within reach.
Let this final be a celebration of resilience. Let it be a reminder that football’s most beautiful stories aren’t always written by giants sometimes, they’re carved by loyal hearts and local dreams.
Did You Know?
- The last team from Kwara State to reach the Federation Cup final, Alyufsalam Rocks, was disbanded in the late 1970s.
- Wasiu Sanni captained Kwara United for several years before transitioning into coaching roles within the club.
- Kwara United’s semi-final win was their first over Enugu Rangers in a knockout competition.
- Abakaliki FC’s journey to the final included victories over three top-tier NPFL clubs a rare feat for a second-division side.
- The Federation Cup, formerly known as the Challenge Cup, was first held in 1945 and remains Nigeria’s oldest national football competition.
