26/04/2026
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A familiar rivalry returns to centre stage as Lobi Stars and Flight FC Gboko prepare to contest the final of the Benue State 2026 President Federation Cup at J.S. Tarka Stadium on Sunday, 26th April.
In a streamlined three-team format organised by the Benue State Football Association, Lobi Stars were granted direct passage to the final as defending champions. Flight FC earned their place through the qualifying route in Otukpo, overcoming Idoma United to set up yet another meeting with the stateβs most decorated side.
With both finalists already assured of tickets to the national stage, the contest in Gboko carries the weight of supremacy and local pride.
For Lobi Stars, the assignment is clear: preserve their hold on the state crown while reinforcing a competitive edge ahead of their pursuit of a return to the Nigeria Premier Football League.
Their recent meetings with Flight FC have followed a narrow script, back-to-back 2-1 victories in the 2023 and 2025 finals, evidence of a fixture often decided by fine margins and decisive moments.
Head coach John Onuh is expected to approach the tie with measured intent. Defensive stability will rest on the coordination of Francis Odinaka and captain Solomon Kwambe, while the midfield pairing of Jimmy Iteji and Peter Onah will be tasked with dictating tempo and linking phases of play. In advanced areas, Suur Kumaga and Azeez Tijani will provide the cutting edge, charged with unsettling a Flight FC backline that has shown both discipline and vulnerability in equal measure.
Flight FC will be gearing up with purpose and a growing reputation as Lobiβs most persistent domestic challengers. Their encounters have consistently drawn strong support, including a notable attendance in the 2023 final at the same venue. Despite falling short on both recent occasions by identical scorelines, the Gboko side have remained within touching distance, demonstrating organisation and the capacity to contest every phase of the game.
Playing before a home crowd offers an added layer of motivation as The Transporters seek to alter the pattern and secure a first state title.
The narrative, therefore, presents a contrast of pedigree and ambition. The Alia Boys carry the advantage of experience and continuity, while Flight FC pursue a defining breakthrough that would resonate beyond this competition. The margins, as recent history suggests, are unlikely to be generous.
Β©Lobi Stars Media.
