Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi has confirmed that Abia Warriors goalkeeper, Ali Ishaku, will be presented with the Best Goalkeeper award of the 2024 President Federation Cup.

Initially, El-Kanemi Warriors goalkeeper George Abine had taken the award home following an error by the announcer during the final at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, on Saturday.

However, Ishaku is set to receive the award and the N1 million prize money at the NFF office in Abuja after the mistake was rectified.

El-Kanemi Warriors won the final of the President Federation Cup 2-0, securing their third title thanks to a brace from midfielder Nasiru Salihu.

In a bizarre twist during the trophy and award presentations of the men’s final, Abine stepped up to receive the best goalkeeper award after an NFF official mistakenly announced the winner as ‘Ali Ishaku of El-Kanemi Warriors.’

There was some confusion after the presentation, but the award has since been recovered by the NFF and will be handed to Ishaku, at a later date in Abuja.

“The chairman of my club, John Obu, called me later after the event to tell me that I should not worry, that they’ve collected the award back and that I will receive the award at the NFF office in Abuja,” Ishaku told PUNCH.

“He told me to send him my account number so that he can forward it to the NFF so I can get the money.”

El-Kanemi keeper, George Abine lamented the lack of explanation by the NFF for the decision to strip him of the award as concedes.

“They didn’t say anything, they just asked me to return the award and I was surprised,” Abine confirmed.

“I believe they ought to look at the criteria before handing out awards because I kept five clean sheets in six matches and only conceded one goal during the tournament. I am just happy that we won the title and that is more important than individual glory.”

General Secretary of the NFF, Mohammed Sanusi, indicated that the issue had been resolved.

“It is an issue that has been resolved and the (Abia) goalkeeper has been assured of getting his award. I can’t really say how the mistake occurred,” Sanusi explained.