Five major ‘red flags’ at the 2024 President Federation Cup final

Regarded as the oldest football competition in Nigeria, even though its identity or title changed over the years due to sponsorship or other tenable means, the 2024 President Federation Cup, otherwise known as the FA Cup or Challenge Cup, left many football followers with certain questions to ask from the Nigeria football federation(NFF)

The haphazard organization, iniquities, and dereliction of duties on the part of the organizers have not only brought the prestigious tournament to disrepute but also cast a big shadow on the competence and capacity of the football leadership in the country. 

These debacles have further compounded the decline of the glamour and essence of the Federation Cup, which used to be the most exciting football event for Nigerian fans.

Taking a stock of the major highlights of the event, some of the avoidable mistakes that riddled the final day also broadly negated the values of the pact the NFF signed with the GTI group to further enhance the efficient management of the FA Cup.

Jerseys without names

It’s a total disservice to the Nigerian football heritage that the jerseys of the finalists of the FA Cup didn’t have their names printed on them. There are unconfirmed reports that a jersey merchandise company was contacted in the eleventh hour to produce the jerseys for the final. The short notice could have contributed to the public spectacle brought about by poor planning and execution of core aspects of the match rituals that were supposed to add to the beauty of the game-disappointed.

Haphazard arrangements and poor coordination 

One of the lowest points of the final event played at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena stadium in Lagos on Saturday was the moment when the finalists in the men’s category filed out for their game. 

A poor communication process from the announcer had led to the distortion of the customary arrangement of teams in observing the national anthem, which also had an altered rhythm.

This scenario further exposed the loopholes in the preparation for the final and also the breezy nature of meeting the demands of the event—what a fiasco at its best.

Presentation of trophies to women without aesthetic value

It’s also disheartening to see trophy and medal presentations for women not up to the level of standard applied in the men’s category. 

The winner of the women’s category, Rivers Angels, had no backdrops or aesthetic bearing champions to take historical pictures with the coveted trophy while the men had the luxury of the stage during their own time. More to this is also the need to host the final of the women separately from that of men in order to create a different momentum that will further push the game.

This does not only defeat the spirit of equal recognition as espoused by the NFF  but also denigrate the standard of women’s football in the country—what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

Pay equity

The disparity in prize money presented to the winners and runners up in the men and women categories also raised a lot of questions in terms of the decision of the organizers.

While men’s category winners received a sum of N50 million and runners up got N20 million, the women’s category winners and runners were presented with N25 million and N10 million, respectively.

While FIFA itself has expressed its commitment to increase rewards for women’s football, football followers are left disappointed to see the NFF allowing such a huge disparity between prize money for men and women, despite playing the same number of matches. How will the gap be bridged?—a complete bias we have seen.

Controversy over the best goalkeeper’s award in the men’s category

It appeared that football lovers had not seen enough of the shortcomings. The last of the debacles that characterized the final event was the controversy that emerged during the presentation of the best goalkeeper award in the men’s category.

In a shocking manner, Abia Warriors goalkeeper Ali Ishaku’s name was announced as the Best Goalkeeper of the 2024 President Federation Cup, but EL-Kanemi Warriors goalkeeper George Abine came out to take the trophy, and this led to a chaotic confrontation between both teams.

According to George, he heard the announcer calling the name of  Abia Warriors goalkeeper, Ali Ishaku but attached  Elkanemi Warriors to it. This made him believe he was originally called for the award.

” When you want to give an award, you value the options. I have played six games, kept five clean sheets, and conceded only one. I heard Ali Ishaku, but they said it was from the El Kanemi Warriors . Sure, I believe I deserve the award. I thought maybe it was a mistake,” George said.

For Ishaku, he claimed that the organizers have admitted to their wrongs by not presenting him with the award. 

Aliu said, “I made six saves and saved a penalty against Kwara United to qualify for the round of 16. I also saved against Sokoto United , Kano Pillars to qualify for the semi final and final, respectively. I also saved a penalty today. They have told me that I am the rightful owner and will be getting the 1 million naira and the trophy.”

How on earth would such an error be made and not even corrected immediately gave room for a doubtful impression on the competence of the announcer and the levity with which the match delegate handled the encounter—gross misconduct.

Now that the award will be withdrawn for Ishaku, one only hopes such a scenario doesn’t play out again.

It could be more disappointing to know that all these things happened during the live transmission of the games on several channels.

For this, questions must be asked, officials should be held accountable, and a future occurrence must be prevented.

Meanwhile, Nigerian football fans would be looking forward to witnessing a more befitting final event in the near future.