It was a turbulent and demanding 2024-2025 Nigeria Premier Football League season for Kwara United, but the team now stands at the cusp of history.
After nearly five decades of waiting, Kwara United are just one match away from delivering the elusive national cup trophy to Kwara State.
And for the club’s head coach, Tunde Sanni, the 2025 President Federation Cup final is more than just a shot at silverware; it is a battle for redemption and pride for a team trying to find its bearings.
Kwara United will face Abakaliki FC, a Nigeria National League (NNL) side from Ebonyi State, in a David-versus-Goliath encounter at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos, on Saturday, June 28, that promises high drama and historical implications.
If Abakaliki triumphs, they will become the first team from Ebonyi to win Nigeria’s most prestigious domestic cup. But if Kwara prevails, they will avenge the 1976 heartbreak when Alyufsalam Rocks, the last Kwara team to reach the final, lost to Enugu Rangers.
In an interview with Naija News, Coach Tunde Sanni knows what is at stake and is not mincing words. He said, “We thank God we are at this stage, the last stage. We pray for victory, and we are working towards it for God to give us that victory.”
Kwara’s Road to Redemption
Sanni took over as head coach on August 31, 2024, following the departure of Kabiru Dogo. At the time, Kwara United was floundering, both on the pitch and behind the scenes.
Despite finishing 14th in the 2024–2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season, the team managed to mount a remarkable Federation Cup run, knocking out top-flight clubs, including Enugu Rangers, in the semi-final.
For Sanni, the league standings don’t reflect his team’s true quality. He said, “Don’t judge us by our position on the log. If not for the internal lagering that we had, we would have beaten Remo Rivers. We didn’t struggle for relegation. We are always ahead. We want to be 3rd or 4th. But something will always just happen.”
That “something,” according to Sanni, has more to do with politics than tactics.
“Our own problems are at home. So many factors are on the ground, so many battles. It is not about the game; it is about politics on the ground, which we pray that we settle before the commencement of next season.”
He admitted to internal power struggles, noting that some individuals have been trying to oust the current management.
“There is [infighting]. Some people want the management to be out. You know that if we are having good results, they can’t be out. But thank God we can surmount all these problems.”
The Abakaliki Threat: Underdogs with Bite
Though Kwara United are the favourites, Sanni is not underestimating the threat posed by Abakaliki FC. The NNL side, who sit bottom of Group B in the second tier of Nigerian football, has stunned observers by reaching the final, taking down higher-ranked teams like Ikorodu City along the way.
Sanni is wary of complacency among his players:
“The only thing is that I don’t want my players to be complacent. They should not rate them by their position on the log or by their League,” he warned. “Federation Cup is another ball game. It is quite different from League. Maybe they are not concentrating on the league. Their concentration is on the Federation Cup.”
He also cautioned that Kwara United cannot afford to rest on their own successes.
“Even though Abakaliki FC have beaten some big teams on their way to the final, we too should not be underrated because we played against underdogs too. We know what it takes to play them. We are not going to underrate them.”
History Beckons
The significance of this final is not lost on anyone familiar with the history of football in Kwara State. It has been 49 years since a Kwara team last played in the national cup final, and never before has the state lifted the trophy.
For Coach Sanni, this is not just another match; it is a chance to etch his name and his team’s name into football history.
“The last time Kwara got to this stage was 49 years ago. So, this is another chance. We are going to make history if we make it possible to win the Cup. We hope to win the Cup for our state.”
Victory, he believes, could also serve as a catalyst for healing the internal divisions that have plagued the club.
“If we succeed in winning this President Federation Cup, it is going to be a turning point. I expect that after winning this Cup, all our issues will be resolved amicably. The government can have another opinion to settle the rift between everybody.
“If we don’t have rift and everyone from the state wants us to do well, surely, our team will do well.”
A Lesson in Humility and Hope
Throughout the interview, Sanni returned to a theme of humility, a recognition that in football, nothing is guaranteed.
“Big lessons. You don’t underrate any team and don’t say your team is bad. Every team has their own problems.”
He insists that the Federation Cup final is not just an opportunity to win a trophy but a life lesson for everyone involved, from fans to players to administrators.
For Coach Tunde Sanni and Kwara United, the 2025 President’s Federation Cup final is more than a sporting contest. It is a chance to silence critics, to unite a fractured club, and to rewrite history. For Abakaliki FC, it is an unprecedented opportunity to bring glory to Ebonyi State. But for Kwara, it’s personal—and perhaps, overdue.
When the two sides take the pitch, it won’t just be about tactics, formations, or fitness; it will be about belief, identity, and legacy. And for Tunde Sanni, there’s no room for doubt.
“We are good to go,” he said confidently. “We are ready to make history.”
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