As excitement builds for this year’s President Federation Cup final, all eyes are on Abakaliki FC’s head coach, Ifeanyi Onyedika, a former Africa Cup of Nations winner, who is poised to extend his remarkable legacy in Nigerian football.
Onyedika, a member of Nigeria’s victorious 1980 AFCON squad, is widely regarded as a football legend, and his coaching prowess is again under the spotlight as he leads underdogs Abakaliki FC against Kwara United in Saturday’s final.
For decades, Onyedika has been a constant figure in the Nigeria Cup scene. In 1981, he scored a crucial goal for Enugu Rangers in their revenge victory over Bendel Insurance — a rematch of the 1978 final, which the Benin Arsenal had dominated 3-0. He was also part of the Rangers side that lifted the National Cup in 1983 after edging DIC Bees on penalties.
His coaching résumé is just as impressive. He led Dolphin FC of Port Harcourt to back-to-back Federation Cup titles in 2006 and 2007, defeating Bendel Insurance and his former side Rangers, respectively.
Now at the helm of Ebonyi’s Abakaliki FC, Onyedika has guided the little-known club past powerhouses including Katsina United, Enyimba, Nasarawa United and Ikorodu City to book their place in the final.
The big question ahead of Saturday’s showdown is whether Onyedika can once again work his cup magic and secure the trophy for Abakaliki FC. For fans of the game, the answer cannot come soon enough.
