The Nigeria Football Federation has directed all state football associations to conclude their President's Federation Cup finals this weekend, warning that failure to meet the deadline will attract sanctions, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The directive affects 35 states, and the Federal Capital Territory, with only Lagos State granted an exemption following a formal request due to the unavailability of its proposed venue as a result of an official government function.
According to the federation, all state finals are scheduled to take place between Saturday and Sunday, with state football authorities expected to ensure full compliance within the stipulated timeframe.
The NFF emphasised that adherence is mandatory, noting that any state that fails to complete its fixtures will face a financial penalty of ?1 million. The measure, it stated, is aimed at preserving the integrity and smooth progression of the competition calendar.
The state finals form part of the ongoing President Federation Cup, the country’s oldest domestic football tournament. The competition begins at the grassroots level, featuring clubs from across all tiers before advancing to the national stage.
Each state is expected to produce two representatives, contributing to an estimated 74 teams for the national phase. Lower-ranked teams will first compete in preliminary play-offs before joining seeded sides from the Nigeria Premier Football League and the Nigeria National League at the round of 64.
From that stage, the tournament adopts a straight knockout format, with matches played at neutral venues and tied fixtures decided via penalty shootouts when necessary.
The directive aligns with the current two-week break in the NPFL calendar, allowing top-flight clubs to participate in the Federation Cup at the state level. League action is expected to resume with Matchday 36 on May 3, followed by Matchday 37 on May 10.
The NFF had earlier warned clubs against withdrawing or failing to honour Federation Cup fixtures, stressing the importance of compliance. This weekend’s state finals will determine the teams progressing to the national stage, marking a crucial phase in the competition’s structure.