Mobolaji Johnson Arena to host 2025 President Federation Cup finals
For the second successive year, the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos, will host the grand finale of the President Federation Cup competition, scheduled for Saturday, 28th June.
The compact but charming facility by the waterfront hosted last year’s grand finale, in which El-Kanemi Warriors defeated Abia Warriors to emerge winners of the men’s competition, while Rivers Angels edged Naija Ratels 1–0 in the women’s final. The venue is also the site of the former King George V Stadium, which was later renamed Lagos City Stadium and subsequently Onikan Stadium.
Lagos State has hosted a total of 60 grand finales of Nigeria’s oldest cup competition, which has been known variously in the past as the Governor’s Cup, FA Cup, Challenge Cup, and Federation Cup.
Of the 60 final matches, 18 were staged at the King George V Stadium between 1945 and 1962. The venue was then renamed Lagos City Stadium and continued to host final matches until 1972, when the clash between Mighty Jets and Bendel Insurance ended 2–2 and had to be replayed. The replay took place at Liberty Stadium, Ibadan—the first time the final was played outside Lagos.
The National Stadium, Surulere, built in 1972 to host the 2nd All-Africa Games held in 1973, began hosting the grand finale in 1974, as there was no competition in 1973 due to the Games and the inaugural National Sports Festival.
The National Stadium, Surulere, hosted a total of 22 final matches, with the last being in 2002, when Julius Berger defeated Yobe Desert Stars 3–0 to emerge champions.
Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, hosted eight final matches (2007, 2009, and 2011–2016). The grand finale has also been held at several other venues including Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi (1989 and 1994), Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi (1992 and 2008), Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna (1993, 1997, 2003, and 2019), Ranchers Bees Stadium, Kaduna (1998), Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City (2004 and 2021), Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt (2005), MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta (2006), Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano (2010), Agege Stadium (2017), and Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba (2018 and 2023).
This year’s finals will see giant-killers Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi take on Kwara United FC of Ilorin in the men’s final, while cup holders Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt will face Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia in a much-anticipated women’s final.
