Yes, now that the party is over in the celebration of the 2025 President Federation Cup competition for Kwara United, they must wake up to the realities that the team will play three tough competitions in the 2025/2026 season that will commence this August.
Kwara United will play in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), the CAF Confederation Cup, and also defend the Federation Cup which they won this season, which translates to the quality and quantity of players they must engage.
Experience has shown that teams playing in the continent would need to rẹ-double their efforts because of fixtures congestion, meaning that a tiny squad may not be advisable.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq led the way last Friday, when he paid N176 million, being the balance of the N201 million owed former players and officials spanning three seasons,
Governor AbdulRazaq, while hosting and rewarding Kwara’s 2024 National Sports Festival medalists at the State Banquet Hall announced the approval and release of the sign-on fees owed the former players and officials by past managements of the team for the past 16 years.
While announcing the payment, the Governor said that the gesture again, underscores his government’s commitment to the welfare of all, including athletes and coaches.
The payment has taken care of part of the conditions for participation in the continental competition.
To be eligible for CAF Interclub competitions, clubs must meet some Club Licensing requirements, which includes competing in a national league recognized by CAF, home stadium with at least 10,000 seats, register with the national FA, club statutes aligned with CAF rules, stable and transparent finances, no outstanding debts to players/creditors, clear financial plan and budget, free from legal disputes and conflict of interest management system.
Others include complying with CAF transfer regulations, functional youth teams (U20 & U17), Head Coach with a CAF A License and active senior women’s team. All clubs must meet these to take part in CAF competitions.
With this in place, Kwara United will obviously play its continental matches away from home, just like it happened in 2022, because of the present condition of the George Agbazika Innih Stadium Complex.
Even though the stadium has capacity that is far and above CAF requirement of 10,000, the absence of scoreboard, perimeter fence, good playing surface may be a hindrance, as it may be difficult to put in place between now and commencement of the 2025/2026 CAF Confederation Cup competition.
Agreed that Kwara United will have to do with the hiring of a CAF A Licensed Coach as it happened in 2022, as Coach Tunde Sanni has CAF B License, the technical crew must begin to assemble and work on their continental squad by now. The team need money now, to clear players and concentrate on building a strong team, as Coach Tunde Sanni has pledged, in a recent interview.
Kwara United must surpass the record of their participation in the 2022/2023 edition. The team lost out in the first round, to RS Berkane of Morocco on away goal rule, after playing out 3-3 aggregate over the two legs. Kwara United won 3-1 in Lagos, and lost 2-0 in the return leg in Morocco.
They dismissed As Dounnes of Niger Republic 3-0 in the preliminary round, winning 3-0 at home in Lagos, and recording a clean sheet at the General Senyi Kontche Stadium in Niger Republic.
The first time Nigeria played in the continent was in year 2000, when they lost out in the quarter-final of the defunct CAF Cup Winners Cup to Zamalek FC of Egypt. They won the first leg 2-1 in Ilorin, and lost 4-0 in Egypt.
With good preparation and early release of funds as at when due, and with adequate support and motivation, Kwara United has the potential of going far in the competition.
With the campaign in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and the 2026 President Federation Cup competition part of their journey this coming season, the team would need a lot of concentration to navigate the hurdles, which of course, is summountable, with adequate preparations.
The party is over, the preparation must begin, in earnest.
