By Olatunbosun Obafemi
Kwara United ended a 60-year wait for the FA Cup title recently, edging out third-tier surprise package Abakaliki FC in the final. Though favourites, Kwara were made to work for the win against a spirited Abakaliki side that had knocked out several NPFL teams en route to the final.
While the match itself lacked major drama, the post-match events sparked widespread criticism. In a bizarre scene during the trophy presentation, it was club administrators – rather than the team captain or players – who lifted the trophy first.
Dressed in flamboyant traditional attire, the officials celebrated as the players, who had battled on the pitch, watched on. Only after the administrators’ moment did the players finally get their hands on the silverware.
The situation worsened on Monday during the victory parade. Instead of using a proper open-top bus, Kwara United players were paraded around Ilorin on a flatbed trailer. Many were seen sitting on the trailer’s edge, exposed to serious safety risks, prompting alarm from fans. One wrong bump, critics noted, could have led to disaster.
Nigerian football fans took to social media to slam the poorly organized parade and the disrespect shown to the players. The incident has reignited conversations about professionalism in Nigerian club football, where celebratory events often appear improvised and chaotic.
Despite the historic win, the spotlight has shifted from Kwara United’s long-awaited triumph to the mismanaged celebrations that followed – turning a golden moment into a cautionary tale.
