Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday hosted the victorious Kwara United Football Club and its Under-19 team in Ilorin, celebrating their recent historic wins in Nigerian football.
Kwara United clinched the 2025 President’s Federation Cup after a tense penalty shootout victory over Abakaliki FC, while the U-19 side won the inaugural National Youth League. The governor, during a reception at the Banquet Hall in GRA Ilorin, announced a reward of ₦5 million and a plot of land at the Kwara Smart City for each player of the senior team.
“This is the biggest trophy in Nigeria today even bigger than the League Cup. It’s a trophy that predates the league itself, and now it’s in Kwara,” AbdulRazaq said proudly.
He commended the players, coaches, and management for their commitment and noted the transformation of Kwara United under his administration since 2019. “When we came in, the team was struggling, players were owed salaries, and morale was low. Today, things have changed for the better,” he said.
The governor also dedicated the trophy to the late Alhaji Yusuf Salami, a long-time supporter of the club. “He gave everything to bring this trophy home without government help. Today, we honour his legacy,” he added.
The reception followed a celebratory motorcade through Ilorin, where enthusiastic residents lined the streets to cheer the team.
Dignitaries in attendance included:
- Rukayat Shittu, Chairperson, House Committee on Sports
- Yusuf Abdulwaheed Gbenga, House of Assembly member for Shawo/Essa
- Deputy Chief of Staff, Princess Olubukola Babalola
- Kwara State Sports Commission Chair, Coach Bola Magaji
- Kwara United FC Chair, Kumbi Titiloye
- Kwara FA Chair, Malam Abdullahi Musa Thuraya
- Head Coach, Tunde Sanni
- APC stalwart, Alhaji Yahya Seriki
In separate remarks, Coach Magaji and Kumbi Titiloye praised the governor for his unwavering support of sports development in Kwara State.
