The Kwara State Football Association has lauded Coach Kabiru Dogo for leading El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri to a historic victory in the 2026 President Federation Cup, describing the feat as further proof that the state is richly blessed with football tacticians of national repute.
Dogo, the former Technical Adviser of Kwara United FC and the Magaji Odo-Okun of Ilorin, guided El-Kanemi to a famous 1-0 win over Ikorodu City of Lagos in the final played in Asaba, Delta State.
In a congratulatory message, the Chairman of the Kwara State Football Association, Mallam Abdullahi Idris Musa, said he was overwhelmed with pride as Dogo etched his name in gold with one of Nigerian football’s most prestigious achievements
“Coach Kabiru Dogo has done the state proud. By winning the oldest and most prestigious knockout competition in Nigeria, he has not only made history for himself but has also raised the banner of Kwara State on the national stage,” Musa stated.
The FA boss noted that Dogo becomes only the third coach from Kwara to win the Federation Cup as Technical Adviser, following in the footsteps of Coach Aliyu Zubair who won the Cup for the same team, El-Kanemi Warriors, in 2024, and Tunde Sanni, who led Kwara United to glory in 2025, 49 years after the club first featured in the competition.
This back-to-back triumph by coaches of Kwara extraction, Musa said, underscores the depth of tactical intelligence and pedigree resident in the state
“It is a great source of pride for me to witness and celebrate this trophy with a home-based coach for the third consecutive year, just as we did for the past two seasons with Coach Aliyu Zubair and Tunde Sanni for Kwara United Football Club. This victory is a testament to the fact that Kwara State is blessed with intelligent, brave, and knowledgeable football minds who understand the game inside out,” he added.
The FA Chairman congratulated the entire El-Kanemi Warriors team, the Borno State Government, and all stakeholders who made the victory possible.
He further challenged other coaches in Kwara to emulate Dogo’s dedication and strive to create their own historic legacies.
“This achievement should serve as a challenge and inspiration to all coaches in Kwara. Work hard, be committed, and make the state proud. The standard has been set,” Musa concluded.