Kwara United head coach Tunde Sanni has said that his team needed the President Federation Cup title more than Abakaliki FC.
Sanni led Kwara United to a very first cup title thanks to a penalty shootout victory in Saturday’s final in the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.
After 90 minutes, 0-0 ended, Kwara United 4-3 triumphed on penalty shootout to put an end to the Abakaliki Giant Killing Streak.
After the victory, Kwara United, in addition to Abia Warriors, will now represent Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup of the following season.
Speaking during the post-match presser, Sanni said with the way Abakaliki performed in the final, it is a surprise that they were relegated from the Nigeria National League (NNL).
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“We did not know that A Wataliki was so good, so we were surprised that this kind of team was relegated, but we needed the cup more than she has. We have been struggling to win this cup for more than 40 years.
Sanni accused the Ebonyi State Club of being more defensive.
“From the first minute they played so many players in the line of defense with the hope that the game will end 0-0 and drag to penalties. They occasionally came out. If our chance that the mail had entered, would be forced to come out and we would have punished them.”
He added: “But what Awakaliki did very well is that they were very well marked, they did man to man, haunted them or players all over the field.”
When reinforcing his team prior to their continental involvement, he said: “We have a team and we have our own playing style, we are not going to dismantle our team, but we can strengthen as three places. So because we have a team, we are not afraid of another team.”
By James Jars
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