2026 Nigeria Federation Cup

2026 Nigeria Federation Cup
President Federation Cup
Tournament details
CountryNigeria
Dates6 May – 11 July 2026
Teams70
Final positions
ChampionsEl-Kanemi Warriors (4th title)
Runners-upIkorodu City
CAF Confederation CupEl-Kanemi Warriors
Tournament statistics
Matches played60
Goals scored145 (2.42 per match)

The 2026 Nigeria Federation Cup was the 78th edition of the Nigeria Federation Cup, the nation's oldest knockout football tournament. The tournament began with the National playoffs on 6 May.[1][2] Defending champions Kwara United were eliminated at the round of 32 by Sokoto United.

The format remained the same with 70 clubs qualifying as finalists from 34 state tournaments held across the states of Nigeria and the FCT.[3][4] Taraba State and Yobe State failed to enter a team.

El-Kanemi Warriors defeated Ikorodu City 1–0 in the final to win their fourth title.[5]

Format

The competition is a single elimination knockout tournament featuring the 70 finalists of each state tournaments plus the FCT. The 12 weakest clubs entered the national play-off round, whereafter the winners joined the remaining 58 teams at the main tournament. All matches are played at neutral stadiums.

Matches are played 90 minutes with tied games going straight to penalties.

The final was held at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.[6]

Schedule

The rounds of the 2026 competition were scheduled as follows:

Round Matches
National play-offs 6 May 2026
Draw 15 May 2026
Round of 64 19–21 May 2026
Round of 32 1 June 2026
Round of 16 6 June 2026
Quarter-finals 11 June 2026
Semi-finals 17 June 2026
Final 11 July 2026

State tournament finals

State Winner Score Runners-up
Abia
4–0
Ahudiyannem
Adamawa
1–0
Adamawa United Academy
Akwa-Ibom
0–0 (5–4 p)
Godswill Akpabio United
Anambra
Edel
2–0
Amanda FC
Bauchi
0–0 (4–2 p)
Warinje
Bayelsa
1–0
Krosaders FA
Benue
Flight FC
1–0
BornoEl-Kanemi Warriors
1–0
El-Kanemi Warriors Juniors
Cross RiverE-World United FC
2–1
Mojoda FC
Delta
De Sapele Lions
1–1 (4–3 p)
Ebonyi
Abakaliki
1–0
Cynosure
Edo
2–0
Westgate FC
Ekiti
Agbanna
1–1 (11–10 p)
Harmony FC
Enugu
2–1
Ingas
Gombe
4–0
El-Shama
Imo
Campos FA
2–0
OISA FC
JigawaJigawa Golden Stars
??
Junior Jigawa Golden Stars
Kaduna
Kada Warriors
1–1 (4–3 p)
ABU DLC
Kano
3–2
Bichi First
Katsina
1–0
Katsina United Feeders
Kebbi
Kebbi United
2–2 (5–3 p)
Kanta Warriors
Kogi
2–0
Reigners FC
Kwara
2–0
Gaa-Akanbi
Lagos
1–0
G12 FC
Nasarawa
1–0
Basira FC
Niger
Bida Lions
1–0
Ogun
Beyond Limits
2–1
Ondo
1–1 (5–4 p)
Adamimogo
Osun
Dokkal Khairu
1–0
Ejigbo City
Oyo
1–1 (4–2 p)
Plateau
1–0
Rivers
3–0
Wilbros FC
Sokoto
–
YSFON Stars
Zamfara
1–1 (11–10 p)
Zamfara United Feeders
FCT
Sporting Supreme
2–1
Sporting Supreme U19

National play-offs

All matches were played on 6 May.[7]

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Sunshine Stars U19 3–1 Harmony FC
G12 FC 0–0 (3–2 p) Dokkal Khairu
Westgate FC 2–0 Amanda FC
Zamfara United Feeders 0–3 Kanta Warriors
Adamawa United Academy 3–3 (8–7 p) El-Kanemi Warriors Feeders
Sporting Supreme U19 5–0 Reigners FC

Round of 64

Beyond Limits vs Bida Lions

Matches were played from 19th to 21st May 2026.[8]

Team 1  Score  Team 2
19 May 2026
Kwara United 2–2 (4–2 p) Sporting Supreme U19
Bayelsa United 2–0 OISA FC
Bendel Insurance 2–1 Katsina United Juniors
Wikki Tourists 2–0 Junior Jigawa Golden Stars
Adamawa United Academy 1–2 Flight FC
Adamawa United 1–1 (5–4 p) Agbanna
El-Kanemi Warriors 1–0 Krosaders FA
Ikorodu City 4–0 Gaa-Akanbi
Ingas 1–0 Edel
G12 FC 0–2 Rivers United
El-Shama 0–4 Enyimba
Ahudiyannem 1–2 Plateau United
Sunshine Stars U19 2–1 Niger Tornadoes
Akwa United 3–0 Wilbros FC
Zamfara United 0–2 Barau
YSFON Stars w/o Gombe United
Katsina United 2–2 (1–3 p) Sapele Lions
Godswill Akpabio FC 0–1 Enugu Rangers
20 May 2026
Sporting Supreme 3–3 (2–4 p) Ejigbo City
Nasarawa United 3–1 Westgate FC
Kogi United 0–0 (8–7 p) Lobi Stars
Kebbi United 1–2 Shooting Stars
Crown FC 2–0 Cynosure
Kanta Warriors 0–3 Basira FC
Sokoto United 0–0 (14–13 p) Mojoda FC
Jigawa Golden Stars w/o E-World United FC
Beyond Limits 1–1 (3–4 p) Bida Lions
Stormers 0–0 (2–3 p) Warri Wolves
Mighty Jets w/o Adamimogo
Warinje 3–0 Bichi First
21 May 2026
Kada Warriors 2–0 Campos FA
ABU DLC 0–1 Abakaliki

Round of 32

Matches were played on 1 June.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Kwara United 0–1 Sokoto United
Sapele Lions 0–0 (3–4 p) Adamawa United
Bendel Insurance 3–1 Crown FC
El-Kanemi Warriors 1–1 (3–2 p) Akwa United
Shooting Stars 1–1 (4–5 p) Kada Warriors
Wikki Tourists 3–1 Bayelsa United
Bida Lions 2–0 Warri Wolves
Flight FC 1–1 (5–4 p) Mighty Jets
Rivers United 3–2 Enugu Rangers
Ejigbo City 0–3 Nasarawa United
Kogi United 0–1 Plateau United
Ingas 1–1 (7–8 p) FC Basira
Ikorodu City 2–0 Jigawa Golden Stars
Enyimba 1–0 Gombe United
Sunshine Stars U19 2–1 Warinje
Barau 1–0 Abakaliki

Round of 16

Matches were played on 6 June.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Sokoto United 2–0 Adamawa United
Bendel Insurance 3–3 (7–8 p) El-Kanemi Warriors
Kada Warriors 1–3 Wikki Tourists
Bida Lions 0–1 Flight FC
Rivers United 2–2 (3–5 p) Nasarawa United
Plateau United 2–1 FC Basira
Ikorodu City 1–1 (5–4 p) Enyimba
Sunshine Stars U19 1–2 Barau

Quarter-final

Matches were played on 11 June.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Sokoto United 0–1 El-Kanemi Warriors
Wikki Tourists 1–1 (4–3 p) Flight FC
Nasarawa United 2–1 Plateau United
Ikorodu City 2–2 (5–4 p) Barau

Semi-final

Both matches were played on 17 June.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
El-Kanemi Warriors 3–1 Wikki Tourists
Nasarawa United 1–1 (2–4 p) Ikorodu City
17 June 2026 El-Kanemi Warriors 3–1 Wikki Tourists Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina
16:00 (UTC+1) Abdulrahman
Bashir
Ismail 		Imamu (pen.)
17 June 2026 Nasarawa United 1–1
(2–4 p)		 Ikorodu City Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City
16:00 (UTC+1) Amadi 41' Ayoola 11'
Penalties
football with check mark
football with check mark
football with red X
football with red X		 Oyedokun football with check mark
Adeoye football with check mark
Ayodeji football with check mark
Ayoola football with check mark

Final

The final sees two-time champions El-Kanemi Warriors, competing in their second final in three years face the previous edition semifinalists Ikorodu City.[9]

Team 1  Score  Team 2
El-Kanemi Warriors 1–0 Ikorodu City

See also

References

  1. ↑ "President Federation Cup: NFF Confirms National Play-Off For next week". bsnsports.com. 24 February 2025.
  2. ↑ "President Federation Cup: National Play-Off Results". TheNFF. 7 March 2025.
  3. ↑ "State FA Cup Wrap: new champions emerge in Abia, Oyo". aclsports. 27 April 2026.
  4. ↑ "President Federation Cup: States submit representative teams in men and women competitions". The NFF. 28 April 2026.
  5. ↑ "President Federation Cup: El-Kanemi beat Ikorodu City to clinch 4th title". Leadership Nigeria. 11 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Asaba to host Federation Cup grand finale". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "NFF confirms President Federation Cup playoff fixtures". aclsports. 30 April 2026.
  8. ↑ "NFF unveils President Federation Cup Round of 64 fixtures". TheNFF. 15 May 2026.
  9. ↑ "El-Kanemi Warriors, Ikorodu City to battle for the trophy". TheNFF. 17 June 2026.
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