Enyimba, Wolves battle for Fed Cup top prize tomorrow

But in one of the innovations introduced in the competition by organizers, the third place match will not hold this year, as the Nigeria Football Federation says it has cancelled the losers’ game.So, tomorrow, Lagos, which has hosted most the of the grand finales in the history of the competition, again stages what should be […]

But in one of the innovations introduced in the competition by organizers, the third place match will not hold this year, as the Nigeria Football Federation says it has cancelled the losers’ game.
So, tomorrow, Lagos, which has hosted most the of the grand finales in the history of the competition, again stages what should be a landmark show as two strong South-East region teams with great ability and capacity trade tackles on the inviting turf of the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
From War Memorial Challenge Cup in 1942 to Governors’ Cup in 1945, FA Cup in 1954 and Challenge Cup in 1960, the Federation Cup has gone through various transformations and is now a competition that soccer loving Nigerians look forward to every year.
Like every other soccer competition around the globe, the Federation Cup has produced players that later became soccer lords in Nigeria and abroad.
In fact, the competition has packed extensive excellent moments and memories over the decades, and with the results produced in the build-up to the final, it is expected that the final match would live up to its billing.
Railways FC won the first FA Cup competition in 1945, and there were so many excellent finals from then on to the 1970s and 1980s, when some of the most memorable final matches were played.
The list of great players who were discovered in this competition and later became national and international football stars is endless, but few names still ring a bell, such as Sam Garba Okoye, Ismaila Mabo and the Atuegbu brothers of Mighty Jets of Jos, Teslim Balogun, Asuquo Ekpe, Jossy Ladipo, Dejo Fayemi, Cyril Okosieme, Sam Opone, Muyiwa Oshode, Inuwa Rigogo, Segun Olumodeji, Leotis Boateng, Peter Rufai, Muda Lawal, Segun Odegbami, Bala Ali, Best Ogedegbe, Edward Ansa, Christian Chukwu, Rashidi Yekini, Dominic Iorfa, Aham Nwankwo, Moses Kpakor, Toyin Ayinla, Dahiru Sadi, Adamu Jeje, Ayo Ogunlana, Uwem Ekarika, Bunmi Adigun, Sunday Eboigbe, Daniel Amokachie and many others.
Their sense of judgement, ball control, goal scoring prowess, dazzling and scintillating display of skills, among other things in the competition still stick to memories.
The dominant teams at the early stage were the Lagos Marine, Lagos Railways, ECN, UAC, WNDC FC, Stationery Stores, ICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan, Enugu Rangers, Ibadan Lions XI, who were winners in 1961, 1966 and 1969 and the unlucky Plateau XI that played in six successive finals without lifting the trophy.
Other dominant teams being BCC Lions of Gboko which paraded Dominic Iorfa, Moses and Terfa Kpakor, late Amir Angwe, Felix Pilakyaa and others, who won the competition four times in 1989, 1993, 1994 and 1997. Bendel Insurance FC (featuring Victor Oduah, Sebastian Broderick-Imasuen, Henry Ogboe, Felix Agboinfo, Sam Okpodu and others)  who won the competition in 1972, 1978 and 1980. Also this era was to see the emergence of the great Borno team- El-Kanemi Warriors.
Tomorrow’s final would be the second time in a row the renovated Teslim Balogun Stadium would host the prestigious and most glamorous soccer competition in the land, as the same venue played host to the 2012 final edition where Heartland of Owerri piped Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi 2-1 to take home the giant trophy.
When the two teams clash tomorrow, the Wolves from Warri will be goaded by two goals, one is to win the trophy and enter the history books like the Kano Eleven of 1953 and the BCC Lions of Gboko in 1989. The second goal will be to pick a ticket to represent Nigeria in next year’s Confederation Cup.
While Enyimba will be aiming to extend their winning streak in the annual soccer competition, Wolves who are yet to savour from the cup, will battle to break the jinx and also write their name in the history books of the oldest soccer competition in Nigeria.
To reach the final, Wolves defeated giant killers Akwa United in the semi-final, having knocked out Pillars in the quarter-final earlier; while Enyimba defeated Lobi Stars in the semi-final to reach the last two.
No doubt, soccer fans that throng the Teslim Balogun Stadium tomorrow will have value for their money, as the two teams posses enough materials that would make the final a thrilling duel.
From the technical bench of the two teams, players and administrators, soccer fans are assured of an ideal Federation Cup final tomorrow.
Warri Wolves’ handler Solomon Ogbeide, who has traversed the nooks and crannies of the country tinkering top flight teams, would lead his charges of Super Eagles defence marshal Azubuike Egwuekwe to puncture Enyimba’s dream of making it three Federation Cup titles.
Wolves also have in their fold goal monger Oghenekaro Etebor who is in contention for the Nigeria Premier League goaldor chase.
For their part, Enyimba posses what would wreck Wolves tomorrow. From the goal post where Femi Thomas provides guard, defence marshalled by Henry Uche and attack anchored by Ukeyima Akombo and Sibi Gwar, the two-time winners under the tutelage of former Kano Pillars handler Yusuf Salisu can unleash a squad that can weave a wining pattern against their tomorrow’s opponents.
Beside Gwar and Akombo, Enyimba has in their fold experience players like Bala Mohammed, Bobby Sokari, Ayo Saka, Ugwu Uwadiegwu and Michael Okoyo who can extend their victory record in the competition.
Both sides are looking forward to the clash, with Warri Wolves Skipper Azubuike Egwuekwe saying the club hopes to make history on Sunday by winning a first-ever Federation Cup at the expense of Enyimba. 
Super Eagles defender Egwuekwe said Wolves have been training hard for the game and have the quality to go all the way against the more fancied Enyimba.
“We have not won the trophy before, we want to write our names in gold. We have come this far and can’t allow the trophy slip away from us,” Egwuekwe said.
“It is going to be a tough and interesting game, we are battle ready for Enyimba. It is definitely not going to be easy, but we are not scared of them. We want to win the cup and we are set for the clash.”
Also speaking, Enyimba FC striker Sibi Gwar says the club is ready to crush their opponents on Sunday and lift the Federation cup for the third time.
“We are not going to underrate them but one thing I want to say is that Enyimba will make it their third Federation Cup victory after Sunday’s final. We have worked hard to reach this stage and we will not disappoint our management and fans by ensuring we lift the trophy,” Gwar said.
Both the Nigeria Football Federation and the Lagos State Football Association have concluded arrangements for a hitch-free Federation Cup final, with the turf of the Teslim Balogun Stadium made perfect for a quality football and we expect that at the end of 90 minutes of action, the winners, losers and spectators will go home satisfied.