Abia Warriors coach, Bethel Orji, attributed their team’s 0-2 defeat to El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in the President Federation Cup finals on Saturday to exhaustion, lack of possession.
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The President Federation Cup final took place at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.
The two-time winners of the old FA Cup, Desert Warriors, defeated the Aba Landlords courtesy of a Nasiru Salihu’s brace.
Bethel Orji, however, claimed that their defeat in the encounter was mostly due to exhaustion and a lack of possession.
“The final was a Warriors game in which one must emerge as champion,” he declared. It was regrettable that, particularly in the first half, things did not turn out as planned. We paid a heavy price since both our possession and our footing were incorrect. Not because El-Kanemi saw our films, but rather because we didn’t do it well, we had a rather poor game.
“It may be because the players were carried away with the atmosphere of playing in the finals, but also we did not play to our optimum.’’
On the preparations towards the finals, Orji also said that his players did not have enough rest before Saturday’s finals.
“In the past one month, we have been on the road playing our league matches and trying to survive relegation, and also playing in the FA Cup.
“Thank God that we survived relegation to the 10th position to face the FA Cup, but towards the final we had a terrible journey around the country.
Abia Warriors defeated Ilaji FC from Oyo 4-2 in the Round of 64 of the competition.
The Aba Landlords also defeated Sporting Supreme of Abuja 1-0 in the Round of 32 and Kwara United FC 4-3 on penalties after the match had ended 1-1 in regulation time.
The team also defeated Sokoto United 5-4 on penalties after their match ended one goal apiece in regulation time en route to the finals.
The semi-finals of the 2024 President Federation Cup between Kano Pillars and Abia Warriors was also decided through penalties.
Abia Warriors won 4-3 after the match ended without a goal in regulation time.
The three-time winners, El-Kanemi Warriors, also defeated Adamimogo FC from Ondo State 2-0 in the Round of 64.
In the Round of 32, the Desert Warriors walked over Gombe United FC, who failed to honour the match, while they defeated hard fighting Shooting Stars of Ibadan 1-0 in the Round of 16.
In the quarter-finals, the Ali Zubair tutored team beat Inter Lagos FC, 2-1 and then wrapped up their semi-finals by beating Kano Pillars 4-3 on penalties.
