El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri yesterday defeated Ikorodu City 1-0 in a thrilling final at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba to emerge champions of the 2026 President Federation Cup.
The hard-fought victory secures the Maiduguri-based side their fourth Federation Cup title in the club’s history.
With this triumph, El-Kanemi Warriors have also picked the ticket to represent Nigeria in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.
Both teams walked onto the pitch with high stakes, but it was El-Kanemi Warriors who showed superior tactical discipline early on.
Ikorodu City, the Lagos-based side making a historic run in the competition, put up a resilient fight but ultimately succumbed to the experience of the top-flight veterans.
The decisive moment came in the second half when El-Kanemi breached the Oga Boys’ defence to score the only goal of the match.
Despite a late, frantic surge from Ikorodu City to find an equaliser and force the game into a penalty shootout, the Warriors’ backline held firm until the final whistle.
“This is a monumental achievement for us,” a jubilant team official told reporters after the match. “The boys gave everything on the pitch. We came here with a plan, executed it, and now we are taking the trophy back to Maiduguri.”