El-Kanemi Warriors head coach Aliyu Zubairu attributes his young team’s passion and hunger for success to their 2024 President Federation Cup victory.
In the men’s final at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos, on Saturday, Maiduguri defeated Abia Warriors 2-0 to win their third Federation Cup title. In 1991 and 1992, they had taken home the crown.
Midfielder and man of the match Nasiru Salihu, who missed a penalty in the first half of the match, put his opponents to shame with two goals (one in each half) to complete a commanding performance by Zubairu’s team.
The Federation Cup title was the second achievement of the Maiduguri side under Zubairu, having led them back to promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League ahead of next season.
“When we started, the players I assembled were young and hungry, they want to make a name for themselves,” Zubairu said after the game.
“At some point, we were playing in the NNL and the President Federation Cup which wasn’t easy but the initial intention of getting younger players paid off because they could persevere, and we prevailed in the competition eventually.”
Aside from winning the Federation Cup, El-Kanemi Warriors will also play on the continent next season as Nigeria’s second team in the CAF Confederation Cup, alongside Enyimba.
Zubairu maintained that the crop of young players will be kept for their campaign next season.
“The reality remains that if the Europeans can believe in young players, what is stopping us from doing that?
“I’m not saying there are no experienced players that can go round the continent and do better, but don’t deprive the younger ones the opportunity. Age does not play football and the younger the better.”
