The first-half penalty scored by Muktar Ismail was that the Maiduguri side needed to lift the trophy.
The decisive moment came in the 19th minute when El-Kanemi Warriors were awarded a penalty, and Ismail calmly stepped up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way, scoring what proved to be the match-winning goal.
Ironically ELKANEMI Warriors won the same trophy in 2024 as an NNL side and this year again though competed in the NPFL,but were relegated at the end of the season.
Despite sustained efforts by Ikorodu City to find an equaliser, the Maiduguri-based side defended resolutely to preserve their slender advantage gf the final whistle and reclaim Nigeria’s oldest domestic football trophy.
The triumph marks El-Kanemi Warriors’ fourth President Federation Cup title, adding the 2026 crown to their previous successes in 1991, 1992 and 2024.
The victory further cements the club’s place among the competition’s most successful teams and caps another memorable campaign for the former champions.
For Ikorodu City FC, it was a spirited performance, but they were unable to overturn the early setback as El-Kanemi Warriors celebrated another historic Federation Cup success.
