Ebonyi Governor Rewards Abakaliki FC After Federation Cup Final Loss
Ebonyi Governor Rewards Abakaliki FC After Federation Cup Final Loss
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has given cash gifts to players and officials of Abakaliki Football Club for their performance in the 2025 President Federation Cup, where they finished as runners-up.
The final match, which took place on June 28 at Mobolaji Johnson Stadium in Lagos, ended in a goalless draw during regulation time. Abakaliki FC lost 3–4 on penalties to Kwara United.
Despite the loss, the club, which is only eight months old, had a strong run in the competition, defeating top teams like Enyimba FC and Nasarawa United on their way to the final.
Following the team’s return, the governor hosted the players in Abakaliki and gave N1 million each to all 34 registered players.
The head coach, Ifeanyi Onyedika, who once played for Nigeria, also received N1 million.
Sixteen officials of the club got N500,000 each, while the supporters’ club was given N4 million.
In addition, the Ebonyi chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) received N1 million for covering the club’s matches.
Governor Nwifuru praised the team for making the state proud, saying he watched the final live and was moved by their effort and commitment on the pitch.
However, he expressed concern about the club’s relegation from the Nigeria National League to the Nationwide League One.
He blamed the coaching crew for the drop, stating that better performance during the league season could have prevented the setback.
He mentioned that the team’s strong performance in Lagos raised questions about their league outing and said efforts would be made to return the club to the higher division.
He also encouraged the club to plan well for the next season and announced a one-month break for the players.
The club captain, Cyril Timothy, thanked the governor for his support, saying the players had hoped to win the trophy to honour him.
He promised that the team would aim for better results in the upcoming season.
