The Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos will once again take centre stage as it hosts the grand finale of the 2025 President Federation Cup on Saturday, June 28. This marks the second year in a row the iconic stadium—steeped in Nigerian football history—will welcome the showpiece event of the nation’s oldest domestic football competition.
Located by the waterfront and known for its rich heritage, the Mobolaji Johnson Arena—formerly King George V Stadium, later Lagos City Stadium, and popularly called Onikan Stadium—was the site of last year’s final, where El-Kanemi Warriors triumphed over Abia Warriors in the men’s category, while Rivers Angels clinched a 1-0 victory against Naija Ratels in the women’s final.
This year, underdog sensation Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi will battle top-tier Kwara United of Ilorin for the men’s crown, while reigning women’s champions Rivers Angels face a stern test against Nasarawa Amazons in what promises to be a fiercely contested fixture.
Lagos has long been the spiritual home of the Federation Cup, having hosted 60 of its finals under various titles such as the Governor’s Cup, FA Cup, Challenge Cup, and Federation Cup. The King George V Stadium alone staged 18 finals between 1945 and 1962, before the baton passed to the newly christened Lagos City Stadium.
In 1972, the final between Mighty Jets and Bendel Insurance ended in a stalemate and had to be replayed in Ibadan’s Liberty Stadium—marking the first final to be held outside Lagos. This move began a tradition of rotating the final across various cities and stadiums in Nigeria.
The National Stadium in Surulere, built for the 1973 All-Africa Games, hosted 22 finals between 1974 and 2002, while the Teslim Balogun Stadium also played a central role, hosting eight editions between 2007 and 2016.
Other venues that have welcomed the prestigious final include the Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi, Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi, Ahmadu Bello and Rancher Bees Stadiums in Kaduna, Sam Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt, MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, Agege City Stadium, and the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
Now, as Lagos prepares once more to play host, all eyes turn to the Mobolaji Johnson Arena for a finale that promises to blend tradition, tension, and top-tier football.
