The Chairman of Kwara State Football Association, Mallam Idris Abdullahi Musa has appealed to the state Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to go extra miles in supporting and motivating the state’s darling team, Kwara United Football Club to win the ongoing President Federation Cup competition.
He equally charged all stakeholders in the state and beyond, to rally round the team to go all the way, pointing out that the team has the potentials to win the trophy.
Kwara United Football Club defeated Akwa United FC 5-3 on penalties, after playing out a two-all draw in the quarter-final of the premier football competition in Enugu yesterday, Saturday May 3, 2025, to reach the last four.
While speaking with sportsbash.com.ng today in Ilorin, Mallam Idris, popularly known as Thuraya commended the Governor for investing in youth and sports development, even as he congratulated him for the good run of the team in the ongoing President Federation Cup competition.
“It’s a Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) organised competition which leads to winning the CAF Confederation Cup competition if you win. It’s the biggest and oldest cup competition in Nigeria and Kwara hasn’t won it since it’s inception in the 40s.
“We appeal to our Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for what he can do extra, to ensure that the record is broken during his time as the Governor of the state. The team has the potentials to win the trophy, and his support and motivation would be crucial to this cause.
Thuraya also appealed to the players and coaches of Kwara United to strive to be part of history, by winning the trophy for Kwara United for the first time.
“I will want to advise Kwara United players and coaches to be part of history, by remaining focused, and complete the successful journey by winning the trophy. It’s possible, and they can do it”, he added.
Kwara United Football Club, formed in 1987, is yet to win the trophy introduced as Governor’s Cup in 1945, and which has gone through different names under different arrangement, and now known as the President Federation Cup competition.
The farthest Kwara United Football Club has gone in the competition was reaching the quarter-finals on few ocassions, and achieving a semi-final feat only this season.
The last time they reach the last eight was in 2023, when they advanced to the quarter-finals after beating Nasarawa United 1-0, but got eliminated by Plateau United 1-0.
However, the team, under the name, Water Corporation and Utility Bombers had done so, also on few ocassions.
In 1979, then known as the Challenge Cup, Water Corporation FC reached the quarter-final, and were eliminated 2-1 by Bendel Insurance. In 1980, the team, still known as Water Corporation, advanced to the semi-finals and lost to the same Bendel Insurance FC.
In 1987, competing as Utility Bombers, they reached the semi-finals, where they lost to the defunct Abiola Babes Football Club.
The only club that played in the final of the competition from the state was the defunct Alyuf Salam Rocks, which lost the final of the 1976 edition 2-0 to Rangers International of Enugu.
