Fed Cup: Kadiri Ikhana sights Enyimba, Dolphins’ match ‘dream final’
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Enyimba head coach, Kadiri Ikhana has stated that the Federation Cup final with Dolphins would be a worthy grande finale to the oldest competition after both clubs pipped their semi final opponents to qualify on Thursday.
Ikhana said that the tie would be tough but reckoned that it would be a good advertisement for the competition which is fast losing its glamour before the involvement of well-meaning Nigerians.
The Aba Millionaires defeated Giwa FC 1-0 at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta in the last four tie decided on Thursday with Camerounian import Raphael Boumsong accounting for the only goal in the second half of the tense game.
“We are happy that we are through to the final. I must praise the doggedness of Giwa FC, they pushed us so hard. We are meeting Dolphins in the final and that would be a dream final because spectators deserve the best clubs to meet in the final,” Ikana told Goal.
“We won’t discuss about the final yet as we savour this victory because we are going to the drawing board. I am happy to lead another club to the final of the Federation Cup.”
Enyimba will face Dolphins on August 16 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, in the final of the competition. Dolphins defeated Prime FC 1-0 in a game played in Abuja.
The Aba based side are seeking to be the fifth club in the modern era to successfully defend the cup and as such follow in the footsteps of El Kanemi Warriors (1991 & 1992), defunct BCC Lions (1993 & 1994), Dolphins (2006 & 2007) and Heartland (2011 & 2012). Enyimba are also aiming to add a fourth title to the one they secured in 2005, 2009 and last year.
The cup holders will be joined in the final by Dolphins who stopped the scintillating progress of National League side, Prime FC in the semi final played at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja.
Prime of Oshogbo have been one of the revelations of the 2014 Federation Cup and they also set a record of being the only team that qualified to the semi final with all their previous matches ending on penalties from the Round of 64 to the quarter final where they dumped Gateway United.
The Omoluabi Giants luck however ran out as they were beaten by the Pride of Port Harcourt 1-0. Dolphins are through to yet another final and they will be all out to add to their previous four titles achieved in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2007. They will be worthy opponents for Enyimba as they are yet to lose in the final of the Federation Cup before. They won all their previous four final matches.
