
President Federation Cup | Credit: YouTube
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced that the grand finale of the country’s oldest Cup competition will now be held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos on Saturday, June 29. Initially scheduled for the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abujaโwhich would have marked the city’s first time hosting the finalโthe NFF and GTI decided on Sunday to return to the historic Lagos Island venue.
This arena hosted the final consecutively from 1945 to 1972. Originally named Association Ground, then King George V, and later Lagos City Ground, the stadium was renamed Onikan Stadium after reconstruction in the 1980s. In 2021, it was renamed Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
The last final held at this iconic venue was in 1972 when Bendel Insurance FC and Mighty Jets FC ended in a 2-2 draw after Mighty Jets’ Sam Garba Okoye scored two late goals. The match was replayed two days later at the Liberty Stadium (now Obafemi Awolowo Stadium) in Ibadan.
Lagos has a rich history of hosting the President Federation Cup finals at various venues. The National Stadium in Surulere, built for the 2nd All-Africa Games in 1973, hosted finals from 1974 to 1987 and in 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002.
The Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere hosted the finals in 2007, 2009, and consecutively from 2011 to 2016. Agege City Stadium hosted the 2017 final.
This year’s grand finale will feature Rivers Angels against Naija Ratels in the women’s event, while Abia Warriors will face El-Kanemi Warriors in the men’s event.
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