It was November 17, 2023, when a new election was conducted to usher in the new executive board for the Edo State Football Association at the Air Force base, Benin City, under the supervision of the first vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Chief Felix Anyansi. Fifteen months have passed with indelible marks left on Edo state youths — from being kept busy to mind refinement, purpose refinement and directions given to those who probably had it lost before. Many stakeholders have since come up with different analyses of how impactful the Football Association, under the chairmanship of Fred Newton Erhumwense, has been in the lives of the common youths of Edo state, especially the grassroots football players.
The set goals and objectives of the FA have since worked beyond setting up football competitions of various levels; they have also ushered in partners from the private sectors and pockets of public post holders.
Expectedly, the chairman and his board have turned around the fortune of the state’s football from being in the state of comatose to a lively and buzzing entity. Fueled by the passion to change the narrative and birth an Association that serves as a template for other states of the federation. Arguably the most active and productive FA in the country with competitions and human development programs, as well as creating a conducive environment for private sponsorships to flow in, gaining commendations from every quarter.
Spicing up the scintillating 15 months and counting journey was a well-organised and executed 2025 State’s FA Cup. The media centre of the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium was filled to the brim on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. Not just filled up with coaches of the more than twenty clubs who were visibly seen in expectance of the draws, but with the big guns from the Sports Commission, former chairmen, secretaries, top coaches, and stakeholders amongst others; lacing it up were over three private companies (sponsors) for the 2025 edition.
The Draws
Twenty-four men’s and seven women’s teams will be contesting for honours as the Edo State Football Association Cup comes to live from 5th to 23rd February 2025 in centres across the state, amongst which are Western Boys High School, Crescent Sports Club and others. For the first time in the history of the state, six women’s football teams will be competing in the FA Cup. Edo Queens, Braveheart Ladies, Fortress Ladies, Hearts Sports Club, Red Soil Ladies, TikiTaka Football Club and Bravos Sports Football Club.
The FA Cup draws, arguably one of its kind from amongst other states of the federation, is worthy of commendation. From the pull of personalities to the organization and how the draw itself was carried out unearthed professionalism by individuals who know their onions. The live broadcast of the draw from the start till the end showed that they invested enough time in ensuring that the program was a success — arguably the first in the country.
Draw in Full as conducted by Vice Chairman, Paul Ojeisekhoba
Men (24 teams)
Bendel Insurance
Ineh Stars (Runners Up 2024 Edo FA Cup)
Delight FC (Semi-Finalists 2024 Edo FA Cup)
BJ FC (Past Winners, Edo FA Cup)
Benin Warriors (Past Winners, Edo FA Cup Winners)
FC Deltra (NLO Kwale Zone winners)
Bendel Insurance Feeders (Winners NLO U19)
Rolly FC (Runners Up NLO Kwale Zone)
Restoration FC vs Shooting Arrows
St Andrews FC vs West Gate FC
Royal Force FC vs Dynamo Academical FC
Aftermath FC vs Eagle Wings
City Rovers vs Police Machine
Elite Stars vs Dynamo Sports
Living Voice vs Assemblies of God
Olowolo FC vs Sports Family
Women Category
Edo Queens — Bye
Fortress Ladies — Bye
Red Soil FC vs Tikitaka FC
Braveheart vs Bravos FC
Sponsorship
Expectations were high on sponsors coming in for the tournament, as seen in lesser competitions hosted by the FA, and the Board didn’t disappoint as there were a lot of goodies from their sponsors and partners. Present at the draws were the officials of the Tournament headline sponsors, Peculiar Ultimate Concern.
Kunle Bello of Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited, while congratulating the FA Chairman, the board members and other stakeholders, reaffirmed the company’s support for sports development in the state, especially football.
The unveiling of jerseys to be used by the last four teams in the men’s and women’s categories was done, as well as the unveiling of the team trophies and individual awards as sponsored by Peculiar Ultimate Concerns.
In recognition of the FA’s giant stride, football-making company Proster Mercurial donated six branded footballs for the finals of the competition.
Freedom Beverages Limited, the producer of Olivia Waters, will be supplying all match day waters to the teams from the playoffs to the final match day in the men’s and women’s categories. The official Water partners will also be providing the coaches, ball boys, the Local Organising Committee members and FA members for the tournament.
Prize Money
The winners of the male category will go home with 1,000,000, the second N750,000 and the third-placed team with 500,000. The winners of the female category will earn 750,000, the second 500,000 and the third 300,000 courtesy of the sponsor, Peculiar Ultimate Concerns. The four semi-finalists in the men’s and women’s categories will also be presented with branded colourful jerseys of 25 pieces each for their feats.
Additionally, each match, both in the male and female categories will see the Man of the Match winners taking home special gifts courtesy of Peculiar Ultimate Concerns.
What they are saying
Permanent Secretary, Mrs Amenze
Please, don’t see this as a do-or-die thing. We know a winner must emerge, but please take it easy.
Executive Director, Sports Development and Operation, Sabina Chikere
Football is a unifying factor. You can see everyone here today in one accord. You see two brothers quarrelling, but when they see football, they settle, and after that, they resume again.
We are going to capitalize on that and endure that when two brothers quarrel and settle with football, they will settle forever and won’t go back to the quarrel.
I want to thank the chairman; he has done great, and as I said, football is a unifying factor — we are trying to develop sports in the state, and how do we do this? We are using grassroots development to go into the hinterlands and get them raw. When you get them raw, you will be able to mould them into what you want and get the desired result. We want to use sports to take off the restive nature of the youths, take them off the streets from every evil they are perpetrating and one of those sports we want to use is football.
We are not just going to focus on football in Edo State Sports Commission. We need the private sector to also partner with the government and make sure we use sports to turn them into world stars and good citizens.
Our mantra in Edo State is “becoming the number one hub of sports in the country” is not an illusion, but it’s achievable. If we put all hands together, all hands on deck, we would be able to achieve this — make Edo State a hub for sports — so that by the time you go into sports and don’t find an Edo man there you will run.
Professor Alabi Aisien
When the shine is deep, it must be Bendel, when it is deeper, it must be Edo. Football is now a businessman and not an elixir for the weekend as it used to be. Nigeria will do fine if Edo State is involved; today, we are breaking new ground. I want to thank everyone involved in this.
Partners
Olivia Waters
We are very glad to supepoch-makingoch making event. Our chairman is a great promoter of peace and we know sports will bring peace and a lot of progress to the Edo people. We are here to provide every necessary support — we are going to make available water for ,v ery match and for the coaches wearports wears for the LOC and FA and ball boys, we will make available jerseys.
Polaris Bank
Representative Queen Uzaman. We want to encourage everyone to Bank with us and we assure you that your money is safe.
Dr. Nathaniel Gay, Head Coach St’ Andrews FC on behalf of the participating teams
“I want to thank God on behalf of the FA, they have done well and we pray for more goods likeourhis. To we participating teams, here’s a platform g,iven to us and we expect all teams to behave properly — we expect all coaches to talk to their players to play by the rules so that we all can be proud of good competition.”
Immediate past chairman of Edo FA, Dr. Aghedo Moses
I have put up a formidable FA and it’s dancing well and that’s why we are all here — please, continue to do well, Mr. Chairman
With the kick off today, a lot more exciting days are expected from the Edo State Football Association.