By Aliamin Olanipekun
In a dramatic turn of events, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has withdrawn the best goalkeeper award from El-Kanemi Warriors’ George Abine and presented it to the deserving winner, Abia Warriors’ Ali Ishaku. The error occurred during the trophy presentation at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, where the announcer mistakenly declared Abine as the winner.
Ishaku, who saved a penalty during the final and made four saves throughout the tournament, will receive the award and N1 million prize money at the NFF office in Abuja. El-Kanemi Warriors won the 2024 President Federation Cup title with a 2-0 victory over Abia Warriors, courtesy of Nasiru Salihu’s brace.
Abine expressed disappointment and surprise at the NFF’s decision to strip him of the award without explanation, despite his impressive performance, including five clean sheets in six matches. However, he took solace in his team’s triumph. NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, confirmed the resolution of the issue but couldn’t explain the mix-up.
Both goalkeepers confirmed that they didn’t have the opportunity to discuss the incident with each other due to the celebrations and family commitments. The NFF’s prompt action in rectifying the error ensures that the deserving winner receives the recognition and prize