Eloquent-speaking Nigeria sports minister, John Owan-Enoh under whose supervision the Nigeria football knock-out competition changed name for the sixth time.
What began as Governor’s Cup and later changed to Challenge Cup, Coca-Cola FA Cup, Federation Cup, Aiteo Cup and Tingo Cup is now President Federation Cup.
The minister explained that the essence is to return charm to the competition that was previously very glamorous.
At a simple, but colourful event packaged by the GTI Asset Management and Trust Ltd, the NFF and the Ministry of Sports at the Westwood Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos, the sports minister harped on the need to rejuvenate the Nigeria national football cup competition which is open to all clubs irrespective of their status.
He recalled the thrills and frills of the competition which had all the ingredients of knock out games with the attendant upsets. Foremost was when the then Leventis United of Ibadan rose steadily from the third division and became the first lower- division team to win the then Challenge Cup in 1984.
“Today we gather to relaunch the competition as the President Federation Cup, honouring Nigeria’s highest office holder and aligning with the renewed hope agenda of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, fostering national unity and emulating the American Super Bowl as a national football extravaganza.”
The minister stated further that his initiative of the agreement with GTI was to raise the standard of the national football cup competition.
“We aim to reestablish the renamed competition on the national and international football calendar, involving grassroots teams, creating employment for approximately 500,000 Nigerians, engaging a hundred million football enthusiasts, rejuvenating talent pipelines, fostering national pride, and showcasing Nigeria’s greatness globally.
“The President Federation Cup will become President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s legacy.”
