HEARTLAND Queens and Ikorodu City failed in their gave their bids to win the women’s and men’s trophies for the first time in the President Federation Cup today as they were narrowly beaten by El-Kanemi Warriors and Nasarawa Amazons respectively in the finals in Asaba.
The women’s final was won 6-5 on penalties by the Amazons after full-time ended 1-1, with El-Kanemi clinching the men’s decider with a 1-0 victory over Ikorodu City
Following a scoreless first half, the Queens from Imo State, who had beaten the more illustrious FC Robo Queens of Lagos in the semi-finals, shot into the lead early in the second half at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, through Chizoba Johnson, but coach Christopher Danjuma’s charges from Lafia levelled later on through Judith Adaobi, to send the contest into a penalty shootout.
In the men’s final, Muktari Ismail converted a first-half penalty to hand the trophy to El-Kanemi Warriors, with the Maiduguri boys refusing to budge despite spirited efforts by Ikorodu City in the second half.
El-Kanemi Warriors thus secured the ticket to represent Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup, alongside Shooting Stars of Ibadan who had earlier finished third in the Nigeria Premier Football League.
