Asaba is preparing for a landmark football weekend, with the Stephen Keshi Stadium set to stage a double bill on 11 July as the 2026 President Federation Cup reaches its climax. Delta State will host the men’s and women’s finals, with both the home side and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) saying their preparations are now in the final stretch.
In the men’s showpiece, three-time champions El-Kanemi Warriors face Lagos outfit Ikorodu City, who are making their first-ever appearance in a President Federation Cup final. The contest carries extra emotion for the Borno side, who have arrived in Delta determined to lift spirits after relegation from the Nigeria Premier Football League this season. Ikorodu City, formed in 2022, are also chasing a historic breakthrough, seeking their first major trophy after navigating a demanding route that saw them eliminate former champions Enyimba, Barau FC and Nasarawa United—each of those ties decided on penalties—before reaching Asaba.
For El-Kanemi, the road to the final has been overshadowed by the disappointment of relegation, but head coach Kabiru Dogo has publicly addressed the setback. He apologised to the club’s supporters and to the Borno State Government, saying the drop from the top flight was difficult to comprehend and never seemed inevitable. Dogo also stressed that winning the cup would not erase the pain of relegation, but would bring back “smiles back on the faces of our supporters,” and he called for renewed unity across the club’s leadership and the state, alongside a recruitment approach strictly based on merit as the team looks to return immediately to the top tier.
The women’s final promises its own brand of firsts and second chances. Heartland Queens will be appearing in the President Federation Cup final for the first time, arriving in Asaba on the back of a 6-0 opening win over Dragon Fury Ladies. They then produced a dramatic 2-1 semi-final victory over FC Robo Queens, with Faith Samson scoring with an 87th-minute header to secure their place in the title match. Standing opposite them are two-time champions Nasarawa Amazons, who are determined to respond after last year’s final ended in disappointment with a penalty shootout defeat to Rivers Angels. Chris Danjuma’s side reached their fifth final after surviving two separate penalty shootouts and winning their semi-final through a stoppage-time strike by Jumoke Alani against Sunshine Queens.
With both finals locked in, Delta State has moved to reassure football fans and other stakeholders about the event. Hon. Onoriode Oborevwori, chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, said the state is fully set to deliver a smooth matchday experience and pointed to Asaba’s growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading sporting locations.
“The Stephen Keshi Stadium has hosted some of the country’s biggest sporting events, including the National Sports Festival, the National Youth Games, the Nigeria National League Super 8, previous Federation Cup finals and many other prestigious competitions,” Oborevwori said. He added that football stakeholders across Nigeria can expect “one of the best-organised President Federation Cup finals this weekend.”
The NFF has also confirmed the officiating appointments for both title-deciding fixtures. For the men’s final between El-Kanemi Warriors and Ikorodu City, Kassim Abdulsalam from Zamfara State will lead as the centre referee. Ahmad Tijjani, also of Zamfara State, will serve as Assistant Referee 1, while Emmanuel Omada of Edo State is named Assistant Referee 2. Ejoor Dimas from Delta State will act as Referee Assessor, Areweremi Ebineme of Delta State has been appointed Reserve Referee, and Hon. Hassan Wada of Kogi State will be Match Commissioner.
For the women’s final, Yemisi Akintoye of Lagos State has been selected as the centre referee for the clash between Heartland Queens and Nasarawa Amazons. She will be supported by Abibatu Yusuf of Rivers State and Mfon Friday Akpan of Akwa Ibom State as assistant referees. Favour Bogwu of Delta State is named reserve referee, with Enuwaonye Nkechi Mary of Delta State appointed Referee Assessor and Dr Martina A. Apia from Cross River State serving as Match Commissioner.
By the end of the weekend, Asaba will crown two champions in Nigeria’s oldest domestic football tournament—one final that could turn El-Kanemi’s rebuilding message into silverware, and another that will decide whether Heartland Queens can create history or whether Nasarawa Amazons can complete their redemption story.
