Enyimba threatens cup final boycott

Chairman of Enyimba, Felix Anyansi Agwu, has told MTNFootball.com his club will stay away from the final of the Federation Cup against Kaduna United in Kano on Sunday unless it gets a formal guarantee for its safety.

Agwu alleged that the lives of his players and officials are at risk in Kano due to the recent fracas between his club and Kano Pillars, which was manifested in the alleged attack on one of Enyimba's official after the club's 2-1 victory over Pillars in the Super Four in Ijebu-Ode on Sunday.

Enyimba came from behind to win the match 2-1 and clinch the trophy, but an attack on the official of the league champion has caused panic in the team as regards what it should expect when the team meets another northern Nigerian club, Kaduna United, in Kano on Sunday.

"We have written a protest letter to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the conduct of Kano Pillars and what happened (alleged attack on one of his officials) in Ijebu-Ode is a pointer to that fact," said Agwu.

"If they (NFF) can not give us a written guarantee for the safety of the lives of our players and officials, it is better we hand over the Federation Cup to Kaduna United than to risk our lives going to Kano for the match.

"I foresee a bloody situation in Kano and it is better to avoid it than to risk because of an ambition to be champions again. I believe there are other venues in the country that can host this final and guarantee the safety of lives," the Enyimba boss told MTNFootball.com in Ijebu-Ode.

It would be recalled that the final of the Federation Cup was originally fixed for Lagos, but the current leadership of the NFF changed the venue to Kano State.

Source: MTNfootball.com