The Harmony Boys defeated Abakaliki FC 4-3 on penalties in Lagos last year to lift Nigeria’s oldest football trophy. However, one year after their triumph, the Ilorin-based club is still waiting for the financial reward attached to the success.
Sources close to the club told newsmen that there has been no communication from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) regarding the outstanding payment.
“It has not been paid, and there has been silence since we won. There has been nothing to say, this is what we are getting. Even the players had to move on and focus on football eventually,” a club source said on condition of anonymity.
Efforts to obtain comments from NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, and Director of Competitions Ruth David were unsuccessful, as they had not responded to inquiries at the time of filing this report.
While the payment issue lingers, attention has now shifted to the 2026 final, scheduled for July 11 in Asaba. Ikorodu City and El-Kanemi Warriors booked their places in the men’s final after impressive semi-final victories.
At the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Ikorodu City continued their impressive run by defeating Nasarawa United 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regulation time. The result extended Nasarawa United’s penalty shootout heartbreak in the competition, having suffered a similar fate five years ago in the 2021 final.
In Katsina, three-time champions El-Kanemi Warriors secured a second consecutive final appearance with a 3-1 victory over Wikki Tourists.
In the women’s category, Heartland Queens will face Nasarawa Amazons in the final. Heartland Queens reached the final for the first time in their history after a 2-1 win over FC Robo Queens in Benin City, while Nasarawa Amazons earned a second successive final berth with a 2-1 victory over Sunshine Queens in Enugu.
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