Heartland Queens FC emerges 2026 Imo FA Cup winners

Posted : 27 April 2026

Heartland Queens FC have been crowned as the Imo state FA Cup champions for four consecutive times after a 3-2 win over the hard-fighting Ikukuoma Queens.

The crowning was a gruelling one as the Cup holders sweated to their panties before they were able to subdue the challengers and newcomers, Ikukuoma Queens 3-2 in the final decided on the turf of the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.

The Cup debutants, who would be experiencing their first time professional football in the upcoming 2025/2026 NWFL Championship, did not hide their intentions and resolve to pull the rugs off the foot of their illustrious opponents immediately the whistle sounded signalling the commencement of the game.

Within less than ten minutes into the game, the Mbaise-based side were one goal in front of their outrightly bemused and shell-shocked opposite; before the Premiership side could understand what hit them hard, the rookies were hitting the net for the second goal.

Tried as the Owerri mainstreams did to come back into the game and regain their well-shaken mojo, the opposite held on to see off the half on a two-goal lead.

Battle-wearied and thoroughly out-punched, the Owerri side entered the next half punching on all sides and trying all tricks to play themselves back into the game and perhaps salvage some pride and halt the steadily slipping off of their title to a less fancied opponent, Ikukuoma Queens.

The Owerri landladies' bench made three instant changes that turned out to be the turnaround in their fortune.

The trio of Kelechi Orgii, Abibat Agbaji and Onyinyechi Kalu came in to replace Chisom Otika, Emmanuella James and Samiat Azeez respectively.

Agbaji pulled back one goal almost immediately upon introduction and restored the hitherto waning confidence in her side. Kalu followed suit sweetly with the second goal while lanky forward, Doris Okoro completed the record comeback.

Ikukuoma Queens may have been undone by inexperience as every effort to match their far more experienced opposite aimed at pushing the game to the lottery of penalties was well rebuffed by the top-flights till the end.

The two finalists, Heartland Queens and Ikukuoma Queens will represent the state at the national finals.

For Ikukuoma Queens, the national finals will serve as an acid test to their dreams to be counted among the big stars while for the premier leaguers it will be an opportunity to push beyond their best performance of quarterfinals in the nation's oldest and most glamorous Cup competition in the land.

This victory cements Heartland Queens' dominance in Imo State as they look forward to making a deeper run on the national stage. Despite the narrow defeat, Ikukuoma Queens proved they are a rising force to be reckoned with in the upcoming championship season. Both teams have now shifted their focus to representing the state with distinction at the national finals.

Heartland Queens FC emerges 2026 Imo FA Cup winners

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