El-Kanemi Warriors will go to Confed Cup with horse and spear – Buba
The Borno State Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Saina Buba, has said El-kanemi Warriors will go into next year’s Confederation Cup with horse and spear to tackle all adversaries.
Last Saturday, newly promoted El-kanemi Warriors stunned Abia Warriors 2-0 in the final of this year’s Federation Cup to clinch the ticket to represent Nigeria in the second tier CAF inter-club competition along with Enyimba.
El-kanemi Warriors had won the then Challenge Cup back to back in 1991 and 1992 after victories over Kano Pillars and Stationary Stores.
So, 32 years after, El-Kanemi have picked the ticket to return to the continent and the elated Commissioner for sports has stated emphatically that Warriors would be worthy representatives.
Speaking after the victory in Lagos, he thanked the Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Zulum, for his unflinching support to the club.
“I want to thank our governor, Professor Babagana Zulum for his support to the club. Today we have won the Federation Cup again which is a thing of joy. Apart from the Federation Cup, we have also returned to the NPFL. “So, we are double champions. We have added another feather to our cap. In fact, we are right now the only NPFL club from the North East zone.
“I want to assure all the sons and daughters of Borno that we are the real Warriors. We have crushed the junior Warriors which is Abia, so we are the senior Warriors. Now, we shall take our horse and spear to the CAF Confederation Cup,” said Buba.
Meanwhile, in his postmatch interview, the Technical Adviser of El-Kanemi Warriors,
Aliyu Zubair, said it was hard to describe the feeling.
“The last time El-Kanemi won this Cup was in 1992 when most of the fans today were very young or not born. But 32 years after, we have won it again so it is hard to describe the feeling,” he said.
On his part, two-goal hero, Nasiru Salihu, said even after he missed from the spot, his coach continued to encourage him.
“Missing a penalty is part of the game. It is something that happens in the game of football. When I missed the penalty, my coach said no problem. I should play my game and in the end, I scored two goals,” said Salihu.