Abakaliki FC Head Coach, Ifeanyi Onyedika, is now focused on guiding the Ebonyi State club side back to the Nigerian National League (NNL) after a glorious run in the President Federation Cup.
 
Abakaliki FC lost 3-4 via a penalty shootout to Kwara United in the final of the President Federation Cup at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
 
The team defeated Enyimba of Aba, Nasarawa United, Katsina United, and Ikorodu City on their way to the President Federation Cup final.
 
Speaking after the final game, Onyedika described Abakaliki FC’s run in the competition as the best sporting achievement by Ebonyi State, saying that getting to the final has shown that with hard anything is possible in sports.
 
He said: “We expected a tough game from Kwara United, but we didn’t think of losing the game because we worked hard to get to the final. We had some injury problems, especially with one of our strikers. We are not happy that we lost, but we will not dwell on the loss.”
 
Abakaliki FC is the first team from Ebonyi State to reach the final of the country’s oldest competition and Onyedika recognises the significance of that feat.
 
“This is the height of progress in sports for Ebonyi State. We have never had anything close to this. So yes, this season is a relative success.”
 
Although there are reports that Abakaliki FC, which were relegated to the Nigerian Nationwide League One (NLO) at the end of the 2024/25 season could retain their position in the NNL through discussions with one of the clubs in the division, Onyedika said his team will still prepare for life in the third tier league, adding: “Wherever we find ourselves next season, we’ll work hard and see how far we can go.”