Sports
By Lanre Owolabi
A sports pressure group under the aegis of Friends Of Nigeria Sports, FNS, has come out with scathing remarks to query the neutrality of the organisers of the President Federation Cup.
Speaking on this year’s ongoing President Federation Cup, the National Coordinator of FNS, Diprieye Thompson, questioned, ” Can we say, the playing field is really Level, over the repeated venue Abuja advantage for Barau FC”.
“This must be said loudly and without mincing words, the organisers of the 2026 President Federation Cup owe Nigerian football an explanation.
“How can a competition that is supposed to be built on fairness and equal opportunity continue to make venue decisions that clearly place one team at a significant disadvantage?”
According to the renowned sports activist, the decision by tbe NFF to fix the quater-finals clash between Barau FC and Ikorodu City, for the Goal Project in Abuja, raises serious questions.
“This decision on the venue raises serious concerns. Imagine that Ikorodu City must make a travel of 780 kilometres and about 14 hours, while Barau FC makes a 432 kilometres journey in less than 6 hours.”
He further queries the credibility of the championship that gives undue advantages to Barau FC.
“This will be Barau FC’s third consecutive President Federation Cup match in Abuja, having also played their Round of 32 and Round of 16 fixtures in the same city. How does one club repeatedly enjoy the same venue advantage in a knockout competition designed to be neutral?
“The organisers cannot continue to ignore these glaring imbalances. Nigerian football deserves transparency, fairness, and integrity. Venue allocation should never create the impression that some clubs are being handed a competitive edge, while others are forced to overcome unnecessary obstacles.
“The President Federation Cup is one of Nigeria’s most prestigious football competitions. Its credibility must be protected at all costs. The organisers, the Nigeria Football Federation and all relevant stakeholders must immediately review this decision and ensure that fairness remains the cornerstone of the competition,” he added conclusively.
A.I
June 7, 2026
Tags: Lanre Owolabi NFF