The last six editions of the Federation Cup final have had Enyimba play in five. The only time they missed out was in 2012 when Lobi Stars played in the final and lost to Heartland 1-2.
This year, the traditional clubs take the backseat as Lobi Stars are back in the final for the first time in three years, and there is a new entrant in Akwa United. The match is live on SuperSport 9 and Select from 3pm this Sunday.
The two finalists, Akwa United and Lobi Stars, bring to memory the 2008 final between Ocean Boys and Gombe United. The two finalists of the 2008 edition finished outside of the top-nine. However, this season Akwa United and Lobi Stars had to battle till the last day to survive relegation and then came head-to-head in the final match day at the Nest of Champions.
ROAD TO FINAL
Lobi Stars scored nine goals on their route to reach the final. They opened their run with a 4-1 defeat of Junior Spotlight in the round of 64. Terpase Tsafe and John Huan scored two goals each at a time Lobi Stars were struggling to win a game in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
After the disappointment of losing their state FA Cup final to Akwa Starlets, Uyo club Akwa United ran over Dallatu United 6-0. Abdulafeez Awakan, Aniekpeno Udoh and Ukeme Davies scored a goal each while Friday Ubong netted a hat-trick.
Lobi Stars eased past Niger Tornadoes 1-0 and Remo Stars on 4-3 penalties after a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes in the rounds of 32 and 16 respectively. The Makurdi club then edged BJ Foundation 2-1 and Enugu Rangers 1-0 in the quarterfinals and semis respectively.
For Akwa United, they cruised past Peacemakers FC in the round of 32 and then edged second tier side, Prime FC 1-0. Niger Tornadoes Feeders made sure Akwa United had their hearts in their mouths when they held the Uyo club to a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes. But Akwa United triumphed on 4-3 penalties to reach their second Cup semifinals.
A first-half goal by Aniekpeno Udoh was enough to help Akwa United edge Nasarawa United 1-0 at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta in the semis of the Cup.
FEDERATION CUP PEDIGREE
Despite putting up a 13-goal run to reach the Cup final for the first time in their 19-year history, Akwa United are second-best to their opponents, Lobi Stars. The latter have won the Cup title once in 2003 and have finished as losing finalists twice in 2005 and 2012.
Akwa United's biggest feat in the Cup competition was in 2013 when they were defeated in the semis by Warri Wolves 1-2. Coincidentally, Lobi Stars were also stopped in the semifinals of the same edition by eventual winners, Enyimba.
STARS TO WATCH
This year, Akwa United will have one of star attractions in their playing personnel. Cup leading scorer, Ubong, with six goals will be the man to watch. The Promise Keepers also have the like of Nnamso Edo, Yusuf Adio, Emmanuel Ariwa, Aniekpeno, Davies, Aniekan Ekpe and goalkeeper Olufemi Kayode, who is a target for a number of top-flight sides heading to the continent.
This Lobi Stars setup are different from the 2012 side that came close to winning the league and the Cup. A large number of the playing personnel will be featuring in their first Cup final. The Makurdi club have got quite some quality personnel in Moses Bunde, Douglas Achiv, Eche Idakwo, Mohammed Farouq Umar, Emmanuel Ajia, Obioma Arinze, Anthony Agbaji, Agbor Ekoi and the experienced Ukeyima Akombo.
MATCH FACTS
• Both clubs met earlier this season in the NPFL over two legs. In July, Lobi edged Akwa United by a goal scored by Anthony Okpotu while Akwa United won the reverse game by same margin to stay in the division. Abdulafeez Awakan scored the winner at the Nest of Champions in Uyo.
• Lobi Stars duo of Okpotu and Abdulrahman Bashir are ineligible to play in the Cup final.
• If Akwa United attacking winger Ubong features he would have the chance to score a seventh goal in the Cup competition.
• Both teams have conceded three goals apiece en route to the final game in Lagos.
• It is a first-ever Cup final for Akwa United while Lobi Stars are set to appear in their fourth final having won it in 2003 and then finishing as losing finalists in 2005 and 2012.
• Lobi Stars head coach Justin Tenger will be sitting in the dugout for his third Cup final as a manager. Tenger was a coach when BCC Lions won the Cup in 1997 and in 2008, he led Gombe United to the final before they lost via penalties to Ocean Boys.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Lobi Stars:[above] Agbor Ekoi; Moses Bunde, Samson Gbadebo, Anthony Agbaji, Iorliam Gwaza, Felix Osia, Eche Idakwo, Douglas Achiv, Mohammed Farouq Umar, Obioma Arinze, Ukeyima Akombo
Akwa United: Olufemi Kayode; Nnamso Edo, Joseph Nicholas, Yusuf Adio, Ottobong Effiong, Godspower Igudia, Emmanuel Ariwa, Ukeme Davies, Aniekan Ekpe, Aniekpeno Udoh, Friday Ubong
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