Thousands of elated fans gather on the streets of Maiduguri to welcome home their football heroes after a magnificent 2-0 victory in the 2024 President Federation Cup final.

The El-Kanemi Warriors have received a huge welcome home as thousands of proud and jubilant football fans lined the streets of Maiduguri on Tuesday to celebrate the 2024 stars of the President Federation Cup.

Dubbed the Borno Army, the Maiduguri-based football team defeated the Abia Warriors 2-0 in the final of the tournament at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos, on Saturday, June 29.

The Abia Warriors are based at the opposite end of the country in Umuahia, the capital city of Abia State, in southeastern Nigeria.

The streets of the Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State in Nigeria’s northeast, got more and more crowded on Tuesday as elated fans waited for their heroes to return from Lagos.

Then the buses arrived. The throng of fans whistled, sang and shouted out to their heroes as the train of buses stop-started their way around the city, giving residents a chance to celebrate their success.

The El-Kanemi players certainly felt the love as they passed landmarks, such as the Borno State University, the Post Office Roundabout, the Shehu’s Palace Roundabout, Lago Street, Tashan Bama, the University of Maiduguri, the suburbs of Abbaganaram, Custom and Gwange and the 202 Housing Estate.

Thousands of fans gathered at the Maiduguri Stadium, the home of the El-Kanemi team.

The bus finally came to a stop at about 5pm at the El-Kanemi Warriors’ camp in the New Government Registration Area.

Celebrating with the stars was a welcome relief for residents of Borno State, who were in a state of shock after suicide bombers killed 32 people in Gwoza on Saturday.

It was the worst attack in years by the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād (JAS), more commonly referred to as Boko Haram, insurgents.

The female suicide bombers, carrying person-borne improvised explosive devices (IEDs), targeted a wedding ceremony, a hospital and a funeral gathering.

But, for a few hours on Tuesday, residents of Maiduguri were able to forget the shocking events in Gwoza.

The clash of the warriors was feisty, but the Borno Army toppled their Abia counterparts to lift the trophy for the first time in 32 years – they last lifted the President Federation Cup in 1991 and 1992.

The team earned a ₦50 million cash prize along with the coveted trophy.

The victory of the newly promoted Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side secured Nigeria’s second CAF Confederation Cup ticket for next season.

El-Kanemi will vie for honours in Africa’s second-tier club competition alongside Enyimba, who earlier sealed their spot after finishing third in the 2023–24 NPFL standings.

Buba Sainna, the Borno State sports commissioner, led Maiduguri residents in celebrating the team’s victory.

He emphasised the need for a “lower-than-usual” celebration because of the shocking bomb attacks on Saturday but said governor Babagana Umara Zulum would formally receive the team at a later date.

Ali Mohammed Mafoni, a sports analyst, told RNI that the 2024 President Federation Cup win marked the revival of football and other sporting activities in Maiduguri after more than a decade of the insurgency which had shattered the power of sport, especially football, as a tool for fostering peace and unity.

“People are very happy and optimistic that the El-Kanemi Warriors can extend their remarkable performance to next season when the team will participate at the CAF Confederation Cup as well as NPFL.

“It was fantastic to see the residents welcome the players and management home. Thousands of people took to the streets wearing colourful jerseys and waving El-Kanemi Warriors Football Club flags.

“Such a mega celebration rally and jubilation has not happened since the start of the Boko Haram insurgency during which social gatherings were targeted and innocent people were killed for no reason.

“This clearly indicates that relative peace and stability has been restored in Maiduguri. Thanks to Almighty Allah, the Borno State government, the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security operatives for their efforts in restoring peace in the state.

“I urge the Borno State government to upgrade sporting facilities across the state, particularly the El-Kanemi Warriors football stadium, so that our stars can go from strength to strength.”

Football fan Mohammed Abubakar said he was excited to see the heroes and be a part of the victory celebrations.

“Everyone is laughing, smiling and cheering. Despite the insecurity and other challenges confronting us, at last we have something that makes us so happy. Everyone is jubilant. Our hearts are brimming with pride. We are all so very excited that our beloved club won the trophy and have brought it home.”

Mala Mohammed Grema said winning the 2024 President Federation Cup for the first time in 32 years was a great and historic achievement for the El-Kanemi Warriors.

“I hope our beloved team will win the CAF Confederation Cup and NPFL title.”

Kaka Malum Mohammed told RNI that the celebrations were supposed to kick off on Sunday, the day after the El-Kanemi Warriors won the cup.

“But that didn’t happened because the Borno State government did not arrange a flight home for the players and management. Because of that, they had to travel by road all the way from Lagos State to Maiduguri which took about 24 hours.

“But when the team arrived on Tuesday, we were so excited and happy to see them. Thousands of people were there to welcome them home.

“The way in which the government treated the players and management was disappointing. It is not safe to travel from Lagos to Borno State by road. There is always the risk of kidnappings, banditry and attacks by Boko Haram.

“I hope the state government will provide better support for our El-Kanemi Warriors in future so that they can maintain their winning performance.”

SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO