COD skipper credits coach for Cup win

City Of David (COD) United captain, Femi Olowo (pictured with the trophy), has attributed their Lagos FA Cup triumph to the ingenuity of interim coach, Solomon Manasseh.

Assistant coach, Manasseh took charge of the team in interim capacity after COD United parted ways with Olabode Awakan.

Though the White Lions recently appointed former Nigeria international, Augustine Eguavoen, as head coach, Manasseh was in charge of the team during the Lagos FA Cup final against Mountain of Fire Ministries (MFM) FC on Sunday.

Olowo particularly singled out Manasseh for holding forte well after the exit of Awakan leading to the Cup win.

"I think it was Ǥod's intervention that brought the turn around and the mindset of all the players because when coach Olabode left it was like a challenge for us and we all felt bad about that. But we needed to move forward and that we have done and coach Solomon Manasseh has been a fantastic coach to work with," said the defender.

"I am so excited lifting the cup as it reminds me of 2009 when I won the Abuja FA Cup also as a captain."

The White Lions went unbeaten throughout the Lagos State FA Cup without conceding a goal.

En route to the Lagos FA Cup final, COD United defeated Araz Sports Club (1-0), CMD (1-0), Bridge Boys via penalties after a goalless draw in open play and ended LSDPC's run in the semifinal with 2-0 win.

New coach, Eguavoen, was in the stands to watch the game as Ikedinachi Nwakanma was the only new signing eligible to feature in the Cup for COD United.

COD United triumphed 3-1 on penalties against MFM FC after the game ended goalless in open at the Agege Stadium in Lagos.

However, the Cup finals recorded a few upsets in a number of states.

Enyimba, Plateau United, Lobi Stars and Niger Tornadoes were among the big sides that lost in their final games over the weekend.