Kwara United head coach Tunde Sanni has said his team needed the President Federation Cup title more than Abakaliki FC.. Sanni led Kwara United to a first-ever Cup title thanks to a penalty shootout win in Saturday’s final inside the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.. After 90 minutes ended 0-0, Kwara United triumphed 4-3 on penalty shootout to end Abakaliki giant killing streak.. Following the win, Kwara United, alongside Abia warriors, will now represent Nigeria in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.. Speaking during the post-match presser, Sanni said with the way Abakaliki performed in the final, it is a surprise they were relegated from the Nigeria National League (NNL).. “We didn’t know Abakaliki are this good so we were surprised that this kind of a team went on relegation but we needed the Cup more than them. For more than 40 years we’ve been struggling to win this cup. You can everybody from Kwara were here (Lagos) and right now in our state there would be so much celebration.”. Sanni accused the Ebonyi State club of being more defensive.. “Right from the first minute they played so many players in the defence line with the hope that the game will end 0-0 and drag to penalties. They came out occasionally. If our opportunity that hit the post had gone in, they would be forced to come out and we would have punished them.”. He added:”But what Abakaliki did very well is that they marked very well, they did man to man marking, they chased or players all over the pitch.”. On re-enforcing his team ahead of their Continental engagement, he said:”We have a team and we have our own style of play, we are not going to dismantle our team but we can strengthen like three places. So, since we have a team we are not afraid of any other team.”. By James Agberebi
