On June 30, Kwara United took to the streets of Ilorin to celebrate their historic victory in the 2025 President Federation Cup, using a trailer for the parade.
The team secured the win after a 0-0 draw against Abakaliki FC in the final on June 29 at Onikan Stadium, and triumphed 4-3 in a penalty shootout. The final match saw prominent figures such as Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Nigeria Football Federation President Ibrahim Gusau in attendance.
To mark their first-ever major trophy, the club organized a victory parade starting from the Eiyekorin area of Ilorin. Images shared on social media captured Kwara United players and officials aboard a trailer, celebrating to the beats of accompanying drummers while dancing and singing in joy.
However, the club’s choice to use a trailer instead of the typical open-top bus for the parade, which was the method used by Remo Stars, has sparked some criticism online.
Following the victory, Kwara United’s coach, Tunde Sanni, praised his team’s performance, explaining that they didn’t underestimate Abakaliki FC, a National League side, which helped them secure the win. “I’m happy we didn’t take them lightly. We were surprised by how good they were, especially considering their relegation,” said Sanni. “Looking at our team, we knew we needed this more, as it’s been over 40 years of striving for this title. We’re grateful to finally have it.”
