Kogi United reclaims State FA Cup



Kogi United has  reclaimed the state FA Cup trophy after beating their city rivals, FC Lokoja in dramatic shootouts.

The final played at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja witnessed by a sizeable crowd ended 1-1 at regulation time as both sides rekindled their age long rivalry.

Both sides could not lived up to the billings in first half of the encounter as it was a cagey affairs which produced less talking points.

FC Lokoja, formerly known as The Teachers, were the first to show real potency as they almost took the lead two minutes into restart but Adepoju Augustine shoot straight at United goalkeeper, Salisu Ogbe when gifted with clear chance.

The introduction of both Francis Savior and Omajagun Umoru who replaced Obasesam Edet and Eghe Osas changed the game for Kogi United and put them on the driving seat.

The dominance would later payed off as the Confluence Boys took the lead in the 59 minutes when Salisu Tanko took advantage of FC Lokoja’s keeper, Bello Dada who failed to quickly react and head home John Jerome’s cross.

FC Lokoja raised their game soon after and pressed for an equalizer which they later got in the 73 minutes.

Danjuma Suleiman had beaten the offside trap and fed Edeh Sunday with a through pass and the latter finished well with low drive past Ogbe.

The game became an end to end stuffs into the closing minutes as both sides went in search of the winning goal. United created the best chances to win at regular time but had Idris Muye, Umoru and substitutes Etuk Akanimo to blame for not taking the initiatives.

The encounter went into the shootouts which was tensed for both sides.

United’s keeper Ogbe saved FC Lokoja’s first two kicks and his side converted their first three. The duo of Savior and Akanimo missed what should have earned United the victory in the regular shootouts and forced it into the sudden death.

It was Apeh Omatiga who missed FC Lokoja’s ninth kick to give United the victory they conceded to their Feeders in last year’s final.

Both finalists will however represent Kogi State at the National Aiteo Cup later in the year. 

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