Ranchers Bees of Kaduna have emerged champions of the 2026 Gusau/Ahlan Pre-Season Tournament after defeating Kwara United 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at the Mohammed Dikko Stadium, Katsina.
Sports247 reports that the final ended goalless after regulation time, with both sides failing to break the deadlock despite a competitive encounter. Kwara United, popularly known as the Harmony Boys, enjoyed periods of dominance and created several scoring opportunities but could not find the decisive finish.
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Ranchers Bees, however, remained disciplined defensively and held their ground until the final whistle, forcing the contest into a penalty shootout.
The Kaduna-based side eventually prevailed 8-7 in the tense shootout to lift the pre-season trophy and cap an impressive campaign.
The victory also served as a measure of redemption for Ranchers Bees, following their earlier Group B meeting with Kwara United, where the Harmony Boys secured a 2-0 victory.
Speaking after the final, Kwara United head coach, Ashifat Sulyman, accepted the outcome while noting that penalty shootouts could go either way.
Sulyman praised his players for their resilience and overall performance throughout the tournament, stressing that the Gusau/Ahlan Pre-Season Tournament provided an important opportunity for the team to assess its preparedness ahead of the new football season.
The coach is expected to use the lessons from the tournament to fine-tune the squad as Kwara United intensifies preparations for the new campaign.
Following their participation in the tournament, the Harmony Boys will return to Ilorin, where they will continue preparations and work on areas identified during their pre-season fixtures.
For Ranchers Bees, the triumph provides an early boost ahead of the new season, while Kwara United will take positives from their competitive showing despite falling short in the final.
