Wasiu Alalade the hero as Kwara United book first ever FA cup final ticket

Wasiu Alalade is the hero as Kwara United defeated Rangers International FC of Enugu to book their first ever final ticket of the FA Cup, now known as President Federation Cup.

Alalade scored what will eventually be the decider of the game in the 50th minute after receiving a pass from Junior Aimufua, who had profited from a goalkeeper error.

The match, played at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena Onikan Stadium in Lagos, was nothing short of spectacle. Kwara United, in the first half, dominated the game but had no goal to show for it with chances, notably from Ibrahim Yahaya and Wasiu Alalade falling short of precision.

Rangers, six times winner of the FA Cup , although came into the game with history but failed to muster enough charges at their opponents in the first half of the game.

While Alalade got the breakthrough for the Harmony Boys early on the second half, they will later also be put through some scares by their opponents, but thanks to their goalkeeper,Suraj Aiyeleso who stood still between the sticks as Rangers launched several goal onslaught to change the scoreline.

For Kwara United, the victory didn’t only ensure that they qualify for the first major finals in their history but also take them closer to sealing a Confederation Cup ticket should they defeat Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi in the final.

Abakaliki, on the other end, defeated Ikorodu City FC 5-4 on penalties in the other semi-final match played at Bwari Township Stadium in Abuja to set up the final clash with Kwara United in a date to be announced by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Kwara United also became the second Kwara State-based team to have ever qualified for the final of the FA Cup after Alyufsalam Rocks who lost 2-0 in the 1976 final to Rangers in Lagos.