Chairman of Nigeria National League ( NNL ), George Aluo has commended Abakiliki FC for putting up a good performance at this year’s Federation Cup finals decided Saturday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena ( Onikan) Lagos, saying that though they lost, they were not disgraced.
Abakiliki FC lost the final to winners, Kwara Utd by 4-2 penalties after the game ended goalless at regulation time in a match fans described as one of the most tactical and tight games in the history of the FA Cup finals in recent times and Aluo believes that the Ebonyi Boys deserve a pat on the back, considering the type of football artistry they displayed throughout the duration of the encounter.
” I’m highly excited with the quality of football artistry displayed by Abakiliki FC in the finals. Although they lost by penalties but they gave their opponent a run for their money and did not disappoint the NNL.
” When you also consider how they got to the finals; beating highly rated Enyimba FC and Nasarawa Uyd, you’ll agree with me that the team is tactically sound and I commend Coach Ifeanyi Onyedika ( MON) for what he was able to achieve with the team
According to Aluo the fact that teams of the second tier league have continued to show character in the oldest football club competition in the country is an indication that the league has greatly improved and will continue to improve for the good of the country’s football.
” I have said it in several fora; that NNL teams can compete at any level in this country. Just last year, an NNL side, El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri defeated Abia Warriors to lift the prestigious FA Cup and this year, another NNL side, Abakiliki Fc got to the final and were not disgraced which shows the quality the league is made of and we shall continue to leverage on the successes recorded and move the league to higher pedestal, ” he concluded.
