El-Kanemi Warriors Beat Ikorodu City to Win Fourth Federation Cup Title
A first half penalty from Muktar Ismail proved decisive as the Maiduguri club claimed silverware and a continental ticket at the Stephen Keshi Stadium.
Want our football coverage to show up first?
Add FootballInNigeria as a preferred source and our stories get a "Preferred" badge in your Google Top Stories, AI Overviews, and AI Mode results.
El-Kanemi Warriors were crowned champions of the 2026 President Federation Cup after a narrow 1-0 win over Ikorodu City in a tightly contested final at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba on Saturday.
The only goal of the game came in the 13th minute, with Muktar Ismail converting confidently from the penalty spot to give the Maiduguri club the lead they would not relinquish.
The win marks El-Kanemi Warriors’ second Federation Cup title in the last three years and the fourth in the club’s history, further establishing their standing as one of the most successful sides in Nigeria’s oldest domestic cup competition. Having taken the lead early, El-Kanemi settled into a disciplined defensive shape, holding firm against sustained Ikorodu City pressure for the remainder of the match.
Beyond the trophy itself, the victory carries a continental reward, with El-Kanemi Warriors securing a place in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup, where they will represent Nigeria alongside Shooting Stars.
For Ikorodu City, the defeat brings a difficult end to what had otherwise been an encouraging campaign. The Lagos based club had already missed out on continental qualification on the final day of the NPFL season and had been hoping a Federation Cup triumph would provide an alternative route into Africa.
Did You Know?
- El-Kanemi Warriors are based in Maiduguri, Borno State.
- This is the club’s fourth President Federation Cup title and their second in the last three years.
- The President Federation Cup is Nigeria’s oldest domestic football cup competition.
- Muktar Ismail scored the only goal of the final, converting a 13th-minute penalty.
- The win secures El-Kanemi Warriors a place in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.
- Shooting Stars will join El-Kanemi Warriors as Nigeria’s other representative in that competition.
- Ikorodu City had already missed out on continental qualification through the NPFL on the final day of last season.
