As the round of 32 matches of the oldest football competition in Nigeria, the President Federation Cup gets underway next week after the Eid El Fitr Celebration, football lovers and fans across Kogi State have continued to shower encomium on the Chairman, Kogi State Football Association, Engineer Hassan Wada for attracting nine matches involving Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Teams to the Prince Abubakar Audu University Stadium, Anyigba, Dekina Local Government Area.
Isaac Achor Edogboanya, a football analyst from Ejule in Ofu Local government said the gesture is unprecedented.
He said since the days of Dekina Dragons, Ankpa Leopard, Idah United, Bassa United and other teams who dominated the football landscape in the past, the land has not witnessed high profile games in a long while until now.
He commended Engineer Wada for working round the clock to ensure that some quality matches are schedule for the University town of Anyigba, whose stadium has been the home ground of Kogi state government sponsored Nigeria Women Football League side, Confluence Queens FC, since its construction was completed in 2024.
Chairman Idah local football council and a former goalkeeper of Nasarawa United, Festus Faruk Emeh said if the government invests heavily in sporting facilities and infrastructures across the local governments, it will definitely attract more big games from the national level, and also boost the economy of the immediate and surrounding localities, thereby leading to improved revenue generation for the State government.
Chairman Ankpa local football council, Coach Yusuf Eleojo Suleiman, while commending Mallam Hassan Wada for attracting the matches to Anyigba, said “it is a good and welcome development; One the Football loving fans of Kogi-East Senatorial District will relish for a long time to come.”
Coach Yusuf appreciated the Prince Abubakar Audu University management for constructing and maintaining the stadium which has drawn the attention of the NFF.
Nasarawa United and Ijele FC of Enugu will lighten the Prince Abubakar Audu University Stadium on the 2nd of April 2025 at 10am in the morning before teams like Inter-Lagos FC, Akwa United, Sunshine Stars, Plateau United, Mighty Jets take turns to display soccer skills and artistry.
