Ozonweke leads Edel FC to Anambra FA Cup glory

Phinan Ozonweke, former Rangers International defender and now head coach of Edel FC, a Nigerian National League (NNL) team, has exclusively said completesports.com who is excited and delighted after winning his first major trophy as a coach with a league team.

Ozonweke was on the bench for Edel FC as they successfully retained their Anambra State FA Cup title with a resounding 2-0 win over Amanda FC in the final at the NEROS Stadium, Nanka on Sunday, April 26, 2026.

Ozonweke salutes historic first victory as coach

Solomon Ugwu, who missed a penalty in the sixth minute of the match, scored the first goal in the final minutes of the match.

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Damien Udoye doubled the lead with a powerful left-footed shot in the second half as Ozonweke’s team sealed a 2-0 victory and took home the £2m cash prize.

Ozonweke, who once played for Heartland of Owerri, could not hide his joy afterwards, stating that the trophy marked his first major title as the head coach of a league team.

“I feel very good because this is my first major trophy as the head coach of a league team,” Ozonweke exclusively told Completesports.com.
“So I’m grateful to God and also grateful to the players for making it possible.”

Ozonweke reflects on the tough final against Amanda FC

Reflecting on the match, the coach paid tribute to Amanda FC for pushing her team hard in the final. He also lamented his team’s lack of precision in the final third.

“They are a good team. They gave everything, which made the game tough and exciting for the fans. It also highlighted the quality that the FA Cup is known for: a competition that respects no one.

“But I will also say that, as good as they are, they were lucky that we didn’t score more than two goals because we missed a lot of opportunities. “In the first half, it was a series of missed opportunities, which limited us to just one goal.

“This is football. I thank God that we finally won because many teams from the top leagues fell before the final: Heartland, Kano Pillars, Abia Warriors, among others.

“So for these guys to win today, it’s a joy and I thank them very much.”

Success in the Cup is a great boost for Ozonweke and Edel FC

He further revealed that the Cup triumph is a fitting reward for the club president and a sign of greater achievements ahead.

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“When I joined the team, they were second to last in the NNL Conference A table. We survived relegation and now we have something, the ANSFA/Neros FA Cup, to present to them.

“At least that’s something. It represents something much bigger to come. Don’t forget, there is a financial reward associated with winning the Cup.”

The focus is on the Federation Cup challenge

Responding to questions on Edel FC’s participation in the President Federation Cup as a representative of Anambra State, Ozonweke admitted that improvements are needed ahead of the national competition.

“We have identified some flaws in the team, what we have to do now is correct them because at the national level it will be more difficult.

“At school we were taught in geography that ‘the higher you go, the cooler it gets’. But in football, the further you go in a competition, the more difficult it becomes.”

By Sab Osuji