Imo FA Cup: Title holders, Heartland Queens emerge champions, set to fly Imo FA flag in Cup campaign

NWFL Premiership side, Heartland Queens have received their well-deserved flowers at the end of the 2024 Imo State FA Cup final on Saturday, March 30 at the turf of Old Township Stadium in Owerri.

They were deservedly decorated with their gold medals and handed the coveted and glittering trophy, Nigeriasoccernet.com gathered.

The Cup holders did not go through the rough-and-tumble of playoffs being the lone team that showed interest and registered to participate in the 2024 Imo State FA Cup competition.

The Owerri mainstreams edged out first-timer and NWFL Nationwide side, First Mahi in the 2023 final decided at the main bowl of Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.

Both sides were however handed the state's flags to go ahead to hoist it at the national stage finals. While First Mahi were bumped in their debut at the national stage finals in the round of 32, the Owerri landladies out-punched Premier leaguers and Watersmeet side, Confluence Queens at the same stage of the competition but got knocked out in the round of 16 by NWFL Nationwide side, Lakeside Queens in Sapele, Delta state.

The Owerri side's best record in the oldest and glamorous Cup competition in the land was the 2022 edition of the yearly football fiesta where they played gallantly up to the quarterfinals before they bowed to the Asaba-based side, Delta Queens.

But with the impeccable form the Owerri side have shown in the ongoing 2023/24 NWFL Premiership where they are leading the eight-team Group A table indications are rife that the Imo State FA champions and sole campaigners will make it to the podium and hand the enviable diadem to the hospitality state.

The nation's football body, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is yet to announce dates for the national stage finals of the oldest competition in the land.

Credit: Heartland Queens Media

By Olaleye Oluwadamilola