Drama, zeal, and unpredictable play have always been hallmarks of Nigerian football. On the pitch, in the stands, behind the scenes and even post the competition, however, the 2025 President Federation Cup final offered a unique combination of all three on Saturday, in Lagos.
Rivers Angels Rise from the Ashes
After a poor outing by Tosan Blankson’s Rivers Angels at the Nigeria Women Football League Premiership, the girls from Rivers had no option than to put up a strong performance and clinch the Federation Cup title. It was a story of two halves and one heroine in the women’s final. With two goals in the first 17 minutes, Nasarawa Amazons blew out of the gates and caught Rivers Angels off guard.
Rivers Angels were on the ropes after Olushola Shobowale’s clinical brace in the first 20 minutes of the match. Rivers’ defensive organisation errors made her job easier, and Nasarawa appeared destined to win by a landslide.
However, football is a game of comebacks, just like life. In the second half, Rivers settled into a rhythm. Five minutes after Taiwo Ajibade pulled one back in the 57th minute, Taiwo Afolabi pulled them even.
The match went to penalties because of the 2-2 draw that persisted into regulation time. Anderline Mgbechi left her mark on cup history there. With steely nerves and a champion’s determination, the goalie not only made a vital save but also stepped up to score the game-winning penalty kick, giving Rivers Angels the cup.
There was much fanfare at the stadium. With joy, the government sponsored players to fly back home instead of travelling by road, the way they arrived.
Kwara United Win, But Not Without Questions
In the Men’s final, Kwara United faced giant-killers and underdogs Abakaliki FC played to a tense, goalless draw. Prior to the final, Abakaliki FC, known as the “Rice boys,” advanced to the final by defeating Nasarawa United in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals and then defeating Ikorodu City on penalties in the semifinals. Hopes were on the team who were seeking a continental place finish.
End-to-end action, clutch tackles, missed opportunities, crossbar hits, and relentless pressure characterised the 90 minutes of football. However, neither team was able to score.
Penalty shootouts was the decisive factor once more. Kwara United defeated Abakaliki 4-3 to win their first major national trophy in over 28 years. Despite the game’s highlights, what happened after the final whistle sparked conversations.
The general manager of Kwara United broke custom by collecting the trophy from the captain and raising it himself, a move that was widely criticised. Almost instantly, pictures from the event went viral online, sparking discussions about tradition, respect, and the meaning of football leadership.
The drama didn’t stop there, though. As reported by Sport247, the general manager was fined ₦10 million by the Lagos State Football Association, the competition’s hosts, for entering the pitch without permission.
The irony was immediately noted by onlookers: Lagos FA is only the host state and not the organiser of the President Federation Cup. Since then, there has been serious debate regarding the validity and application of the fine.
Iya Oni Guguru: A Viral Heroine
If one image summed up the heart of this year’s tournament, it was that of a woman in her 50s dancing on the pitch, clad in a Kwara United shirt with her box of popcorn and groundnuts on her head while celebrating. Her name is Oluwatoyin Oluwaponmile Abdullahi popularly known as Iya Oni Guguru.
A loyal supporter of Kwara United for over 17 years, she sells guguru and epa (popcorn and groundnuts) on match days, in the stands of Kwara United stadium. For the final, she traveled over 300 kilometers from Ilorin to Lagos, not only to sell, but also watch and cheer her team, Kwara United.
She was ecstatic at the sound of the final whistle confirming Kwara United as champions. She ran onto the pitch, box and all, and a now-viral photo of her celebration taken by Bolaji Jokanola won over Nigerians’ hearts.
At the team banquet, the Kwara State Governor, moved by the moment and the story behind it, gave her ₦1 million as a reward, per Newstap.
As more donations came in, that amount increased to over ₦2 million, all because of the influence of storytelling and the media.
The image once again showed that football is about more than just trophies; it’s about people, loyalty, and shared objectives.
Governor’s reward Champions, Celebrate Runners-Up
Kwara United players benefited greatly from the victory. Each player received ₦5 million and a piece of land from the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazak..
Abakaliki FC, the runners-up, were not overlooked. Francis Nwifuru, the governor of Ebonyi State, gave ₦40 million to the club and its officials and ₦1 million to each of the 34 registered players.
What made the moment more special was the inclusion of often-overlooked contributors. Non-technical staff of Abakaliki FC received ₦500,000 each, and the Ebonyi chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) was awarded ₦1 million for their coverage.
Supporters’ groups shared a ₦4 million reward. He further pledged to sustain the payment of player and staff salaries until November 2025, Spotslight Hub firat reported.
The Bigger Picture: More Than Just a Game
The 2025 President Federation Cup demonstrated that Nigerian football is anything but straightforward. Drama, tenacity, and memorable moments that went well beyond the pitch propelled the competition.
Rivers Angels rallied from a two-goal deficit to win the championship. The nation was moved by Iya Oni Guguru’s widely shared celebration, which transformed a loyal fan into a symbol of allegiance. The distinction between celebration and protocol was blurred by the controversy and rewards surrounding Kwara United’s victory.
After all said and done, the prizes, the responses, the knock-on effects—was what really showed how football in Nigeria evokes strong feelings, provokes discussion, and brings people together long after the final whistle has blown.
Leave a Reply