Ifeanyi Ezema, Abakaliki FC Centre- back, says winning the 2025 President Federation Cup will serve as the only compensation for their poor performance in the 2024/2025 Nigeria National League (NNL), Completesports.com reports.
Abakaliki FC will feature in the President Federation Cup final in their debut season following a 6-5 win over Ikorodu City FC in the semi-final. The two teams settled for a scoreless draw in regulation time, but the Ifeanyi Onyedika-led side prevailed 6-5 via a penalty shootout.
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The Rice Boys will now battle Kwara United in the final on a date yet to be decided by the Nigeria Football Federation.
Abakaliki FC have had a woeful campaign in the NNL, sitting at the bottom of the Conference B standings with 17 points from 18 matches, with only two games remaining.
Ezema believes that only the President Federation Cup title remains for them to fight for, and that a triumph over Kwara United in the final will serve as fitting compensation to the supporters of the club and the Ebonyi State Government, following their potential relegation from the second-tier league, NNL, to the third-tier Nationwide League One (NLO).
“We’re prepared and fully focused on the President Federation Cup final against Kwara United,” Ezema told Completesports.com in an exclusive interview.
“It won’t be an easy match—we know that—but we’re going to give it our all, knowing that victory in the final will serve as the only compensation to our supporters, the government, and the people of Ebonyi State for standing behind us throughout the campaign.”
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Ezema added: “Yes, our performance in the league hasn’t been what we expected. But in the Cup run, we’ve done well, and you can check the number of NPFL sides we’ve met and defeated so far—Katsina United, Nasarawa United, Enyimba, and Ikorodu City. That tells you we’re not a bad side at all.
“Against Kwara United in the President Federation Cup final, we hope to fight and replicate that form which saw us beat these top teams, by the grace of God.”
By Sab Osuji
