“Height Of Sports In Ebonyi”: Abakaliki Coach On Federation Cup Final

Head coach of Abakaliki FC, Ifeanyi Onyedika, M.O.N., has described his team’s historic run to the final of the 2025 President Federation Cup as the pinnacle of sporting achievement for Ebonyi State.

Speaking with Sports247 after Abakaliki FC’s narrow loss to Kwara United via penalty shootout in Saturday’s dramatic final at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, the coach reflected on the journey, challenges, and future of the club with emotional clarity.

“Well, probably we were expecting too much. But we didn’t know it was going to go that way,” Onyedika said post-match. “We worked very hard for this game. We knew Kwara United always seal the deal in the first half, so we planned to beat them at their own game in the second half.”

Despite a goalless draw in regulation time, Abakaliki FC eventually fell 4-3 in the ensuing penalty shootout. The coach cited an unfortunate injury to one of the team’s key strikers as a decisive factor.

“We were prepared. Unfortunately, we had some problems with our striker who stayed too long on the pitch due to an injury. That’s just it. We lost, and we’re not happy—no one is happy after losing—but we move on.”

While the defeat was painful, Onyedika acknowledged the broader significance of reaching the final, calling it a landmark moment for sports development in Ebonyi State with a team no one gave any chance to go far in the competition.

“For Ebonyi State, this is the height of progress in sports. They’ve never had anything close to this. So yes, this season is a relative success.”

When asked if he ever expected such a remarkable journey under seven months of team preparation, the coach admitted: “No, I didn’t. But we worked very hard. That’s the secret.”

Looking Ahead: NLO Next Season

Abakaliki FC is now set to compete in the Nationwide League One (NLO) next season, following a less impressive showing in the Nigeria National League (NNL), where the team struggled to adjust.

“NNL is a very different football game. We didn’t know the terrain very well,” Onyedika said. “We started in November, and before we knew it, the season slipped away. And sorry to say, some referees and officials were horrible—it really made the job difficult.”

Despite the challenges, Onyedika maintains a hopeful outlook. “Wherever we find ourselves next season, we’ll work hard and see how far we can go.”

The underdog story of Abakaliki FC’s rise to the Federation Cup final has already inspired many across Nigeria, and Onyedika remains optimistic that this milestone will spur greater investment and development in Ebonyi’s sports ecosystem.

Sports247.ng