Solution FC of Anambra State will not emerge from the state FA Cup to feature in the 2026 Nigeria Federation Cup (President Federation Cup) after failing to complete their registration for the Anambra FA Cup qualifying tournament, a prerequisite for entry into the national competition.
The Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA) opened registration for the 2026 Federation Cup qualifiers in late November 2025, setting a deadline of 8 January 2026 for all teams to pay fees and submit paperwork to be eligible. In the men’s category, clubs were required to pay ₦200,000 to register for the state FA Cup, which also serves as the qualifying pathway into the Federation Cup.
Despite being one of the better-known sides in the state having played in the 2024/25 Nigeria National League (NNL) and previously featured in national cup matches — Solution FC did not complete the registration process on time. As a result, they will not take part in the state FA Cup competition and won’t qualify for the 2026 Federation Cup national stages.
The ANSFA had urged teams to register early to avoid a last-minute rush, but Solution FC’s absence from the list of entrants means they miss out on both state cup action and the chance to compete in one of Nigeria’s most historic knockout competitions, the President Federation Cup.
EDITORIAL
In the tapestry of Nigerian club football, the President Federation Cup occupies a special place a gateway where dreams of glory and underdog stories intertwine. It is a competition that has seen minnows rout giants and provided a platform for smaller clubs to stamp their name on a national stage a stage Solution FC once briefly graced with a memorable run in the 2025 edition.
Yet football is not just played on grass it is also contested in boardrooms, secretariats and administrative corridors. In that sense, Solution FC’s absence from the 2026 Federation Cup qualification reflects an all too familiar reality in Nigerian football, opportunities can slip through the cracks when off-field procedures aren’t navigated with the same energy as on-field pursuits. Missing the registration deadline for the Anambra FA Cup the very competition that feeds into the national Federation Cup is not simply a clerical oversight. It is a procedural misstep with real competitive consequences for players, staff and supporters alike.
This turn of events underscores a broader truth: sporting ambition must be matched with organisational precision. While Solution FC’s fans may lament the fact that their team will not contend in 2026, the lesson here as across domestic football is clear administration matters as much as athletic performance. As champions and challengers prepare for the upcoming season, the hope must be that clubs pair their footballing fervour with operational discipline otherwise, opportunities like this one may continue to slip away before a whistle is even blown.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Anambra FA Cup registration for the 2026 Federation Cup closed on 8 January 2026, with clubs required to pay registration fees to participate.
- Male clubs had to pay ₦200,000 to register for the state qualifying competition that feeds into the national Federation Cup.
- Solution FC had previously competed in the 2025 President Federation Cup, famously defeating NPFL side Lobi Stars before bowing out later in the tournament.
- The Anambra state FA Cup is sponsored as the NEROS/FA Cup, and in recent editions has featured local NNL teams including Solution FC and Edel FC.
- Winning a state FA Cup is typically the route for clubs to enter the national Federation Cup, meaning Solution FC’s non-registration directly prevented their qualification.
