Kwara United Football Club will tomorrow, Saturday June 28, 2025, take the centre stage, against Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi state in the final of the 2025 President Federation Cup, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, in an attempt to rewrite football development history in the state and country.

The Nigeria Federation Cup is the main football single-elimination tournament in Nigeria contested by 74 teams, representing the 36 states and the FCT of Nigeria. It is the Nigerian domestic Cup competition.

The tournament was created in 1945 as the “Governor’s Cup”, succeeding the War Memorial Challenge Cup that had been limited to teams from Lagos.

The tournament, as the Governor’s Cup, was initially dominated by Lagosian teams, later it was known as the Nigeria FA Cup from (1954–1959), Nigeria Challenge Cup (1960–1998), Coca-Cola FA Cup (1999–2008) and Nigeria Federation Cup (2009–2016). Between 2017 and 2022, the competition was sponsored by the AITEO group and known as the AITEO Cup including the women’s tournament.

Since 1945, which by calculation, is now 80 years ago, Kwara United and indeed, any team from the state hasn’t won the trophy. The nearest a team from the state, Alyuf Salam Rocks, a privately owned club, reached the final, but lost it to Rangers International of Enugu by 2-0. That was in 1976, 49 years ago, to be exact.

Kwara is one of the few states that made early waves in sports, especially football in the country. The high enthusiasm and consciousness culminated in the construction of the State Stadium Complex in 1977, which has now been named as George Agbazika Innih Stadium Complex, in honour of the late former Military Administrator in whose tenure it was constructed.

The government of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has done more than enough in sports development, including, but not limited to the renovation and construction of new sports infrastructure, as well as support for participation in sports.

Governor AbdulRazaq knows the value of sports, and beyond that, he also understands the contributions of sports to what is called development. Every meaningful development must involve the youths. And to make youths productive, there must be deliberate investment in, and encouragement of sports participation, all of which is characterizing his administration.

Winning the Federation Cup trophy will be a plus for the state, Governor AbdulRazaq, each and every player that made it happen, as well as the Head Coach of the team, Coach Tunde Sanni Salihu.

When Kwara United was formed in 1997, Tunde Sanni was invited as one of the foundation players. He was appointed Assistant Captain, while Coach Toyin Ayinla, another son of the soil invited to the team then, was Captain. Tunde Sanni later became the Captain, graduated to be a Coach, was Technical Adviser, Assistant Coach to Coach Tunde AbdulRahman, came back as Chief Coach, before he was elevated to the position of the Technical Adviser.

Tomorrow, he will be leading the team against Abakaliki FC in the final, hoping to win the trophy which has eluded the state since 1945.

The history of football in Kwara state, a state that was created in 1967 alongside 11 other states, most importantly the capital city, Ilorin, is replete with clubs that have, from one time or the other, demonstrated the verve and artistry of the beautiful game. It began way back from the colonial days, but could be said to have taken proper shape from the 1940s.

Kwara State FA was officially inaugurated in 1973, with Alhaji Usman Mustapha as the pioneer Chairman. In 1975, the Challenge Cup was introduced, and this saw the coming of Midland FC, Tate and Lyle and other clubs into the scene. Most of the clubs had relatively short stay on the stage, with impacts limited to local competitions.

The defunct Alyuf Salam Rocks Football Club of Ilorin, Kwara State is arguably one of the best privately owned football outfit in the state before now, and one of the clubs that, even though had a relatively short reign, created history that has continued to stand the test of time in Kwara state and Nigerian football.

The club was formed on September 28, 1975, and it ceased to exist in 1982.

Late Alhaji Yusuf Adebayo Salami founded the famous soccer outfit back then. The late Salami was then a business tycoon based in Lagos. He was encouraged by his financial capacity, his love for the game of football and the need to satisfy the yearnings of football lovers in the state, who are in dire need of a formidable football club.

It came on the heels of the disbandment of Sadauki Rocks, which died following the demise of the owner and financier, late Alhaji Abubakar Sadauki, popularly known as ‘Mark One-One’.

Salami rose to the occasion by raising a team which he successfully led to stardom in 1976, as they reached the National Challenge Cup final.

One of those who steered Kwara Football to the path of great history was Alhaji Yusuf Adebayo Salami, popularly known then as Alyufsalam or Sarumi Dikaka Dikuku.

Late Salami grew up as a petty trader, having worked with several trading companies and establishments, and eventually progressed to be a big time and successful businessman.

Former Military Governor of the state, late Col. Ibrahim Taiwo, then a friend to late Salami also inspired him to support the formation of a football club.

This is part of the history which the state Governor, Mallam AbdulRajman AbdulRazaq is pioneering Kwara United to rewrite. Tomorrow, Saturday June 28, 2025 is a big day for the state, and for the Governor.