Sports News of Thursday, 9 July 2026

Source: www.thenationonlineng.net

NFF confirms match officials for President Federation Cup

NFF NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the match officials for the 2026 President Federation Cup finals, which will take place on Saturday, July 11, at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.

Kassim Abdulsalam of Zamfara State has been appointed as the centre referee for the men’s final between El-Kanemi Warriors and Ikorodu City.

He will be assisted by Ahmad Tijjani as Assistant Referee 1 and Emmanuel Omada (Edo State) as Assistant Referee 2. Ejoor Dimas (Delta State) will serve as Referee Assessor, while Areweremi Ebineme (Delta State) has been named Reserve Referee. Hon. Hassan Wada (Kogi State) will be the Match Commissioner.

In the same vein, Yemisi Akintoye of Lagos State will officiate the women’s final between Heartland Queens and Nasarawa Amazons.

Abibatu Yusuf (Rivers State) and Mfon Friday Akpan (Akwa Ibom State) have been appointed as the assistant referees, while Favour Bogwu (Delta State) will serve as the reserve referee. Enuwaonye Nkechi Mary (Delta State) is the Referee Assessor, with Dr. Martina A. Apia (Cross River State) appointed as Match Commissioner.

The appointments complete the officiating lineup for the two title-deciding matches in Nigeria’s oldest domestic football competition.

In a related development, Delta State has expressed readiness to host a memorable President Federation Cup final as preparations reach the final stage ahead of Saturday’s showpiece.

Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Hon. Onoriode Oborevwori, said the state is fully prepared to host both the men’s and women’s finals.

According to him, Asaba has built a strong reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading sporting destinations after successfully staging several major national competitions.

“The Stephen Keshi Stadium has hosted some of the country’s biggest sporting events, including the National Sports Festival, the National Youth Games, the Nigeria National League Super 8, previous Federation Cup finals and many other prestigious competitions,” Oborevwori told journalists.

“We are confident that football stakeholders from across Nigeria will witness one of the best-organised President Federation Cup finals this weekend.”

The men’s final will see Ikorodu City take on El-Kanemi Warriors, while Heartland Queens will face Nasarawa Amazons in the women’s final.