By Amaechi Agbo

As the Round of 64 matches of the 2026 President Federation Cup continue today, E World United FC have written to the Nigeria Football Federation stating why they will not honour their match against Jigawa Golden Stars in Makurdi, Borno State.

E World, Cross Rivers State FA Cup champions, are scheduled to face Jigawa Golden Stars by 4pm today in Makurdi.

However, the club will not honour the match and have written to the NFF to inform them about their decision.

The club in a statement on Tuesday, said it could not honour the match due to financial challenges as well as the Cross Rivers State FA’s failure to pay them their prize money for emerging the State’s champions.

E World regretted that despite several efforts to get financial assistance to prosecute the game, it ended in futility as no help came from anywhere.

“We regrettably write to officially notify the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Abuja of our inability to honor the FA Cup fixture scheduled for Wednesday, 20th May 2026, against Jigawa Golden Stars in Makurdi.

“E-World United Football Club proudly emerged as the champions of the Cross River State FA Cup after successfully competing within the state tournament. Our players, coaching staff, and management invested significant effort, resources, and dedication throughout the competition to earn the right to represent Cross River State at the national level as Champions for 2026.

“However, despite our achievement as state champions, sad to say, we have not received the prize money from the Cross River State Football Association.

“If provided to our club these money would have been a financial support, or logistical assistance to our team.
Several efforts and communications have been made in anticipation of these support for transportation, accommodation, feeding, and other necessary travel arrangements to enable the team honor these round 64 fixture in Makurdi, but unfortunately, no assistance has been received.

“As a grassroots football club with limited financial capacity, it became extremely difficult for us to independently fund the movement of players and officials from Cross River State to Makurdi within the short notice given for the fixture. This unfortunate situation makes it extremely difficult for us to participation in the aforementioned match,” the club said.

The club noted that their inability to participate in the Round of 64 has negatively impacted their players who fought hard to earn their place in the competition. It further apologised to the NFF, Jigawa Golden Stars, supporters and stakeholders over the situation and expressed their continued commitment to the development of the round leather game

“This development has greatly affected the teams morale haven fought hard to prepare for engagements at the national level.

“We sincerely apologize to the Nigeria Football Federation, the match officials, Jigawa Golden Stars Football Club, our supporters, and football stakeholders for any inconvenience this may cause. We respectfully appeal to the NFF to kindly look into this matter and take note of the circumstances surrounding our inability to honor the fixture.

“We remain committed to the growth of football and grassroots development in Nigeria and hope for better cooperation and support for clubs representing their states in future competitions.”

Jigawa Golden Stars are expected to walkover E World United FC today in Makurdi. It would be the second walkover match after Gombe United walked over YSFON Stars on Tuesday

Meanwhile, actions continue today and tomorrow in the 2026 President Federation Cup Round of 64 as follows:

Sokoto United Vs Majoda FC – Lafia (20/05/26): 4pm

Crown FC Vs Cynosure FC – Anyigba (20/05/26): 4pm

Kebbi United Vs Shooting Stars – Abuja Goal Project (20/05/26): 4pm

Kada Warriors Vs Campus FC – Anyigba (21/05/26): 4pm

Beyond Limits Vs Bida Lions – Ilorin (20/05/26): 4pm

Stormers FC Vs Warri Wolves – Benin City (20/05/26): 4pm

Adamawa Academy Vs Flight FC – Bauchi (19/05/26): 4pm

Mighty Jets Vs Adanimogo FC – Minna (20/05/26): 4pm

G12 FC Vs Rivers United – Benin City (19/05/26): 4pm

Godswill Akpabio FC Vs Enugu Rangers – Aba (19/05/26): 1pm

Sporting Supreme Vs Ejigbo City – Anyigba (20/05/26): 1pm

Kogi United Vs Lobi Stars – Abuja Area 3 (20/05/26): 4pm

Kanta Warriors Vs FC Basira – Minna (20/05/26): 4pm

Jigawa GS Vs E-World FC – Makurdi (20/05/26): 4pm

ABU DLC Vs Abakaliki FC – Makurdi (21/05/26): 4pm