#federationcup

கோழிகோட்டில் நடைபெற்ற தடகளப்போட்டிகளில் தமிழகம் மற்றும் கேரளாவைச் சேர்ந்த இரண்டு நண்பர்கள் பங்கேற்று சாதனை புரிந்துள்ளனர்.

Defending champions Enugu Rangers as well as newly-crowned Nigerian league champions, Enyimba, are top on list of teams that were knocked out of the 2019 Federation Cup on Wednesday. In their Round of 32 clash in Minna, Rangers were beaten 2-0 by fellow Premier league side Lobi Stars. The Flying Antelopes who emerged as champions last year after they dramatically beat Kano Pillars to the top prize in a thrilling final encounter in Asaba could not replicate same this time year. Two goals from Lobi striker, Stephen Michael, ensured that Coach Gbenga Ogunbote’s team did not go past the Round of 32 this term. Michael scored a goal in each half of Wednesday’s game to push the Pride of Benue closer to their target of winning the Federation Cup and ultimately secure a continental football ticket. On their part, Enyimba were dumped out of the 2019 Federation Cup following the 3-2 defeat suffered in the hands of amateur side Smart City on Wednesday at the University of Benin Sports Complex. The People’s Elephant who recently won an unprecedented eighth league title were hoping for a domestic double but their hopes were dashed by the Lagos State FA Cup champions. Bashiru Kareem, John Gini and Abubakar Umar were the goal scorers for the giant killing non-league side. In some of the other Round of 32 games also played on Wednesday, Akwa United were sent packing by Rivers United as they were hammered 3-0 by coach Stanley Eguma’s men. Kehinde Adedipe gave the Pride of Rivers the lead in the first while second-half goals from Bright Onyedikachi and Ossy Martins ended what has been a disappointing finish to what initially looked like a promising season for the Promise Keepers. There were more heartaches for a host of NPFL teams on Wednesday with the likes of Sunshine Stars, Nasrawa United, Katsina United, Delta Force and Wikki Tourist all losing to lower league sides in their Round of 32 ties. Federation Cup Round of 32 results Smart City 3-2 Enyimba Lobi Stars Football Club 2-0 Enugu Rangers Ambassador 0-1 Warri Wolves FC EFCC 1-0 Sunshine Stars Football Club Gateway United 0-2 Abia Warriors FC AKLOSENDI INT’L FC 1-0 Nasarawa United Rivers United F. C. 3-0 Akwa United Shooting Stars 2-0 Katsina United Ekiti United 2 – 4 Bendel Insurance Crown FC 1-1 Kwara United (4-5 PK) Gombe United FC 0-1 Niger Tornadoes FT: Wikki Tourist 1-1 Calabar Robers (2-4 PK) Delta Force 0-0 Cynosure FC (10-11 PK) Read the full article

Enyimba International FC have begun their quest for a domestic double following their qualification for the Round of 32 in the Federation Cup. The People’s Elephant a few days ago won their eight Nigerian League title. On Sunday, they were on top of their game again, beating Kano Pillars Feeders team 3-1 at the Kwara Sports Complex, Ilorin, to qualify for the next round of the Federation Cup. Aside from Enyimba, four other Nigeria Professional Football League teams: Kano Pillars, El Kanemi Warriors, Nasarawa United, and Sunshine Stars also joined the roster of Premier League teams that have progressed in the 2019 Federation Cup otherwise known as the Aiteo Cup In their game in Kwara, Orok Ibitham gave Enyimba the lead in the 12th minute but Umar Shehu levelled the scores for Kano Pillars Feeders from the spot in the 23rd minute. Orok again shot the People’s Elephant ahead in the 30th minute before Abdulrahman Bashir increased the tally in the 57th minute to ensure that Enyimba’s quest to seal a domestic double remains intact. Elsewhere, Kano Pillars pummeled Aspire FC 4-0 in a one-sided Round of 64 tie in Abuja. Goals from Gambo Mohammed, Nyima Nwagua, Yusuf Maigoro and Adamu Hassan in the 25th, 44th, 82nd and 86th minutes saw Pillars cruising to victory. In Lokoja, Sunshine Stars survived a scare before beating Layin Zomo 2-1. Nasarawa United and El Kanemi Warriors defeated their opponents, Junior Katsina United and Police FC, 1-0 and 6-0 respectively to also book their passages to the next round of the Cup competition. The remaining 32 teams will continue the battle that will lead to the eventual determinant of Nigeria’s second representatives in the CAF Confederation Cup competition next season. Enugu Rangers picked the first slot through the league last week. Besides Yobe Desert Stars that were beaten 1-0 by Ambassador FC, almost all the top teams are still in the race for the top prize. Full Federation Cup Round of 64 Results Sokoto United 1-2 Akwa United Abia Warriors 1-0 Heartland Comets Rivers United 4-0 Timberloader Kebbi United 0-1 Lobi Stars Jigawa Golden Stars 1-2 Bendel Insurance Niger Tornadoes 3-0 Fasbir FC Enugu Rangers 2-0 Niger Tornadoes Feeders Kwara United 3-0 Ben Ayade (Walkover) Wikki Tourists 4-0 Qatar FC Gombe United 3-0 FC IfeanyiUbah Feeders (Walkover) Delta Force 2-0 Walli Flamingos Setraco 0-4 Plateau United Gwandu United 2-4 Katsina United Enyimba 3-1 Kano Pillars Feeders Police (Osogbo) 0-6 El Kanemi Warriors Layin Zomo FC 1-2 Sunshine Stars Katsina United Feeders 0-1 Nasarawa United Aspire FC 0-4 Kano Pillars Ambassador FC 1-0 Yobe Desert Stars Read the full article

AKWA UNITED SIGN SIX NEW PLAYERS AHEAD OF NEXT SEASON #AkwaUnited have added six more new players to their squad ahead of the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional #Football #League season. Top on the list of the new additions are former #FlyingEagles forward Christian Pygbara, who joined from #Enyimba, and ex- U-23 Eagles defender Semiu Liadi, who linked up with the Promise Keepers from relegated #WarriWolves. Three players from Wikki Tourists, Alhassan Ibrahim, Shittu Lawal and Dini Usman have also linked up with their former coach, Abdu Maikaba, at the Uyo-based side. The other player is forward Sikiru Olatunbusun who arrived from MFM FC of #Lagos. He is the second player from the Olukoya Boys to have joined with Akwa United following the signing of talented #midfielder, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi. The former #FederationCup winners are looking to rebuild their squad after a disappointing campaign last season which saw them finish in 14th place. © Bassey Ibiatisuho #Sports #News (at Uyo)