The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Aiteo Cup

  • Big teams eye Round of 32 spots

    Following the conclusion of the Super 6 that finally brought the curtain down on the Nigeria Professional Football League season, all the attention is now on the national finals of the AITEO Cup 2019 which remaining matches of the Round of 64 come up this weekend.

    Enyimba FC, the ‘People’s Elephant’ is up against Kano Pillars Feeders at the Kwara Sports Complex in Ilorin on Sunday, but on Saturday, Cup holders Rangers International of Enugu and Niger Tornadoes Feeders clash at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan and Rivers United will cross swords with Timber Loaders in Lafia.

    The Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu is the venue for the clash between Abia Warriors and Heartland Comets, while Yobe Desert Stars face Ambassador FC in Bauchi and Lokoja Township Stadium welcomes Gombe United and FC Ifeanyi Ubah Feeders.

    Katsina United and Gwandu United will sort out things in Gusau; Jigawa Golden Stars and Insurance FC are up in arms at the Bako Kontagora Stadium, Minna and; Damaturu will bubble for Wikki Tourists of Bauchi and Setraco United.

    On Sunday, last year’s finalists Kano Pillars have a session with Aspire FC at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja and same day, El-Kanemi Warriors will file out against Police of Osogbo at the Lafia Township Stadium.

  • Rangers are 2018 Aiteo Cup Champions

    Enugu Rangers Football Club have lifted the 2018 edition of the Aiteo Cup, after a nail-biting penalty shootout win over Kano Pillars yesterday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

    It was a game of two halves with Sai Masu Gida dominating the first half and racing to a two-goal lead by halftime through the goals of Rabiu Ali and Alassan Ibrahim in the 5th and 19th minutes.

    Pillars progressed from where they left off at the start of the second half with Nyima Nwagua putting his name on the scoresheet in the 48th minute.

    Ibrahim Musa’s men would have increased the tally few minutes after the third goal but the centre referee adjudged that the Pillars’ goalscorer was offside before scoring.

    The dramatic comeback began almost immediately when Gbenga Ogunbote effected some changes. Bringing on Kelvin Itoya and Ajani Ibrahim, while Nana Bonsu replaced ineffective Femi Thomas.

    The Flying Antelopes reduced the tally in the 77th minute through Itoya before Chidera Ezeh netted the second in the 82nd minute to the delight of Rangers’ fans.

    The stadium was brought to a standstill in the dying minutes of the game when Ibrahim, another substitute made his impact felt with the equaliser.

    There was not much to separate between both teams after the Flying Antelopes’ equaliser and it was not long before the centre referee, Adebimpe Quadri blew the final whistle for the game to be decided by penalty shootout.

    Ever reliable penalty taker, Rabiu Ali stepped up to take the first spot kick but ballooned his effort over the bar.  Godwin Zaki, Chidera Ezeh, Ifeanyi George and Okey Odita all converted theirs for Rangers.

    Pillars could only convert two of their four kicks, while Jimoh Ismail was also unlucky from 12 yards as his effort was saved by Nana Bonsu.

    Rangers thus emerged as the 2018 Aiteo Cup winner 4-2 on penalties.

    Rangers won the 25 million naira prize money for winning the competition and they have earned the ticket to represent Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup later in the year.

    It is their sixth Aiteo Cup crown and the first since 1983.

  • AITEO Cup win- ‘Our resilience to play continental football’

    AITEO Cup win- ‘Our resilience to play continental football’

    Akwa United goalkeeper, Olorunleke Ojo, on Tuesday said that the team’s drive to win AITEO Cup on Sunday was a result of their resilience to play continental football next season.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akwa United won the maiden edition of the AITEO Cup on Sunday at the Agege Township Stadium on Sunday 3-2 against Niger Tornadoes.

    The team played under the watchful eyes of their number one supporter, Gov. Emmanuel Udom, who led other members of Akwa Ibom cabinet and his Lagos State counterpart, Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Other VIPs that graced the epic final were the CAF President, Ahmad Ahmad, with some CAF top hierarchy, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), President, Amaju Pinnick and the Vice-President, Seyi Akinwunmi.

    Ojo was, however, hero of the match at his last gap penalty save earned his team a 3-2 win over hard fighting Niger Tornadoes.

    The lanky goalkeeper adjudged the best goalkeeper of the tournament, told NAN on the sidelines of the match that the failure to clinch the last ticket in the just-concluded league propelled their victory.

    “Our last experience in the Nigeria Professional League (NPFL) where we lost the chance to secure the last spot of the continental ticket is a drive. We wanted to play in the continent.

    “We are a team with immense confidence and experience, so we are motivated to play in the continent with the backing of the state government.

    Read: 1st AITEO/CAF Award Holds January 4 In Accra

    “It is a collective effort, everybody is on the same page; we work for it, or let me say that we earn it through hard work on the part of the coach and players.

    “We have the facility, our stadium is one of the best in Africa, so we are super confident of a good representation in the CAF Confederation Cup,’’ he said.

    The Coach, Abdul Makaiba, said that he had a target of qualifying the team for the continental football.

    “First, the mandate is to try and win the NPFL, then, that failed; we thought another mission to qualify for the continental competition through the available spot which did not also materialise.

    “I almost see it as a failure, and then another opportunity came through this championship which I know will be a good opportunity to clinch the last ticket.

    “We played this tournament with all passion and determination because we know what we wanted to make something out of it.

    “I am grateful to the Akwa Ibom FA for believing in this project and also the state governor who is our number one supporter, it is great to have this kind of support from him,’’ he said.

  • Tornadoes To Lock Horns With Akwa United In Final

    Tornadoes To Lock Horns With Akwa United In Final

    Akwa United FC defeated Sunshine Stars 3-1 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in the second leg of their AITEO Cup semi final fixture on Sunday.

    Christian Pyagbara scored the second for The Promise Keepers in the second half to lead the Top Scorer’s race with seven goals. Akwa United’s first came from Cyril Oliseme.

    The Owena Whales thought they had clinched a place in the grand finale when Franklin Sasere scored to make it 2-1, meaning they would go through on the away goals’ rule. But Super Eagles’ midfielder Ifeanyi Ifeanyi netted a third that took the hosts into next Sunday’s final in Lagos.

    They went through on 3-2 aggregate, and will clash with Niger Tornadoes of Minna (4-3 winners over Cup holders FC IfeanyiUbah in the other semi final) in the men’s final at the Agege Stadium, Lagos on Sunday 15th October 2017.

  • AITEO Cup: Committee throws out Abia Angels

    AITEO Cup: Committee throws out Abia Angels

    The Organizing Committee of the 2017 AITEO Cup on Thursday threw out Abia Angels of Umuahia from the competition after careful consideration of a protest lodged by Confluence Queens of Lokoja on player eligibility.

    Head of AITEO Cup Competition, Emmanuel Adesanya, who conveyed the decision to thenff.com, said the Umuahia –based Club has forfeited their slot in the semi finals, which will now be taken by Confluence Queens.

    The Angels defeated the Queens 1-0 in their quarter –final, first leg in Umuahia and both teams fought out a 2-2 draw in the return leg in Lokoja.

    The disqualification means Confluence Queens will now proceed to Uyo to play Ibom Angels in the semi final, first leg on Saturday, before hosting the Ibom girls in Lokoja next Wednesday.

     Meanwhile, the semi final, first leg matches of the 2017 AITEO Cup competition will take place on Saturday with Cup holders FC IfeanyiUbah (men) eyeing spot in the grand finale with the firm intention of defending their crowns.

    The Anambra Warriors are away to Niger Tornadoes at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja but must be wary of a side that has not lost a match in the confluence city since moving home there two seasons ago.

    Tornadoes bumped Nigeria Professional Football League champions Plateau United in the quarter –finals, winning 2-0 in Lokoja and leading by the same margin in Jos before the homers drew level in the second period.

    The other semi final is between 2015 champions Akwa United FC of Uyo and Sunshine Stars of Akure, with the first leg setting the city of Ijebu-Ode on edge on Saturday.

    In the women’s competition, champions Rivers United, who were given a good run by Edo Queens in the Round of 8 before winning on penalties after 180 minutes of scoreless action, tango with Bayelsa Queens in Nembe.

    Ibom Angels, conquerors of Pelican Stars in the quarter –finals, host Confluence Queens, restored to the competition following a successful protest against Abia Angels, in Uyo.

    AITEO Cup Semi Final Pairings (1st Leg)

    WOMEN

    Bayelsa Queens Vs Rivers Angels (Nembe)

    Ibom Angels Vs Confluence Queens (Uyo)

    MEN

    Niger Tornadoes Vs FC IfeanyiUbah (Lokoja)

    Sunshine United Vs Akwa United (Ijebu-Ode)

    First leg matches: Saturday, 30th September 2017

     

    AITEO Cup Semi Final Pairings (2nd Leg)

     

    WOMEN

    Rivers Angels Vs Bayelsa Queens (Port Harcourt)

    Confluence Queens Vs Ibom Angels (Lokoja)

    MEN

    FC IfeanyiUbah Vs Niger Tornadoes (Nnewi)

    Akwa United Vs Sunshine Stars (Uyo)

    Second leg matches: Wednesday, 4th October 2017

     

    AITEO Cup Quarter –Final Results

    First leg matches

     

    WOMEN

    Bayelsa Queens 1-0 Nasarawa Amazons

    Ibom Angels 1-0 Pelican Stars

    Rivers Angels 0-0 Edo Queens

    Abia Angels 1-0 Confluence Queens

    MEN

    Niger Tornadoes 2-0 Plateau United

    Osun United 1-0 Sunshine United

    FC IfeanyiUbah 3-0 ABS FC

    Akwa United 7-0 Katsina United Feeders

     

    Second leg matches

     

    WOMEN

    Nasarawa Amazons 1-0 Bayelsa Queens (Aggregate 1-1; 2-4 penalties)

    Pelican Stars 0-0 Ibom Angels (Aggregate 0-1)

    Edo Queens 0-0 Rivers Angels (Aggregate 0-0; 0-3 penalties)

    Confluence Queens 2-2 Abia Angels (Aggregate 2-3)

    * Abia Angels disqualified on ground of player ineligibility

    MEN

    Plateau United 2-2 Niger Tornadoes (Aggregate 2-4)

    Sunshine United 3-1 Osun United (Aggregate 3-2)

    ABS FC 0-1 FC IfeanyiUbah (Aggregate 0-4)

    Katsina United Feeders 2-1 Akwa United (Aggregate 2-8)

    AITEO Cup Round of 16 Results

    WOMEN

    Pelican Stars 1-1 FC Robo Queens

    Confluence Queens 3-0 Sure Babes

    Bayelsa Queens Feeders 1-3 Edo Queens

    Rivers Angels 9-0 Ben Women FC

    Sunshine Queens 0-0 Bayelsa Queens

    Beautiful Tours 0-10 Nasarawa Amazons

    Jokodolu Babes 0-0 Abia Angels

    Osun Babes 1-1 Ibom Angels

    MEN

     

    FC Abuja 0-0 Niger Tornadoes

    Akwa Starlets 1-2 Plateau United

    Ngwa FC 1-3 Sunshine Stars

    Osun United 2-1 El-Kanemi Babes

    Unicem Rovers 0-1 ABS FC

    Akwa United 5-1 Shooting Stars

    Ekiti United 1-1 Katsina United Feeders

    FC IfeanyiUbah 3-1 Heartland FC

    Round of 16 Replays

     

    WOMEN

    FC Robo Queens 2-2 Pelican Stars (3-4 penalties)

    Bayelsa Queens 5-1 Sunshine Queens

    Abia Angels 3-0 (W/O) Jokodolu Babes

    Ibom Angels 1-0 Osun Babes

    MEN

     

    Niger Tornadoes 1-0 FC Abuja

    Katsina United Feeders 3-1 Ekiti United

    AITEO Cup Round of 32 Results

     

    WOMEN

    Adamawa Queens 0-1 Edo Queens

    FC Robo Queens 1-0 Delta Queens

    Confluence Queens 3-0 (W/O) Invincible Queens

    Beautiful Tours 3-1 Moje Queens

    Rivers Angels 5-0 Delta Babes

    Bayelsa Queens Feeders 4-0 Fortress Ladies

    Pelican Stars 1-0 Young Talents 99

    * Ben Women FC, Ibom Angels, Jokodolu Babes, Sure Babes, Sunshine Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, Osun Babes, Abia Angels and Bayelsa Queens were drawn bye into the Round of 16.

    MEN

    Sunshine Stars 4-2 Nasarawa United

    Akwa United 4-2 Yobe Desert Stars

    Osun United 0-0 Kwara United (4-3 penalties)

    Niger Tornadoes 1-0 FC Atete

    Ngwa FC 0-0 Lobi Stars (4-3 penalties)

    Unicem Rovers 1-1 Rangers International (6-5 penalties)

    Ekiti United 1-1 Abia Warriors (4-2 penalties)

    FRSC FC 1-1 Heartland FC (4-5 penalties)

    FC IfeanyiUbah Feeders 0-2 FC IfeanyiUbah

    El-Kanemi Babes 1-1 Almar FC (4-2 penalties)

    FC Abuja 2-0 Samba Kurna

    Plateau United 1-0 Ede United

    ABS FC 6-3 Adamawa United Feeders

    Katsina United Feeders 1-1 Bayelsa United (4-3 penalties)

    Akwa Starlets 4-2 Doma United

    Delta Warriors 0-2 Shooting Stars

    AITEO Cup Round of 64 Results

    Ngwa FC (Ebonyi) 6-2 FC Galadima (Kebbi)

    Heartland FC (Imo) 0-0 Insurance FC (Edo) (5-4 penalties)

    Lobi Stars (Benue) 2-0 Katsina United (Katsina)

    Katsina United Feeders (Katsina) 1-0 Aklosendi FC (Nasarawa)

    Aitel FC (Taraba) 0-0 Unicem Rovers (Cross River) (3-5 penalties)

    Mighty Jets FC (Plateau) 1-2 Sunshine Stars (Ondo)

    Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) 3-0 (W/O) FC Zamfara (Zamfara)

    Adamawa United Feeders (Adamawa) 2-1 Cynosure FC (Rivers)

    Ede United (Osun) 2-0 Sakaba United FC (Kebbi)

    FC IfeanyiUbah Feeders (Anambra) 2-1 Jigawa Golden Stars

    Samba Kurna (Kano) 2-0 Wikki Tourists Feeders (Bauchi)

    Ekiti United (Ekiti) 3-2 Dolphins FC (Kaduna)

    Niger Tornadoes (Niger) 2-1 El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno)

    Rivers United (Rivers) 0-0 FC Atete (Delta) (6-7 penalties)

    Delta Warriors (Delta) 2-0 Ayade Babes (Cross River)

    FC Yarmalight (Gombe) 1-3 FC IfeanyiUbah (Anambra)

    Halfa FC (Jigawa) 1-3 Akwa United FC (Akwa Ibom)

    Shooting Stars (Oyo) 3-1 Dynamite FC (Edo)

    Kogi United (Kogi) 0-3 (Decision after abandonment) Rangers International (Enugu)

    Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) 3-0 MFM FC (Lagos)

    Niger Tornadoes Feeders (Niger) 1-4 FC Abuja (FCT)

    Doma United (Gombe) 1-1 Adamawa United (Adamawa) (4-3 penalties)

    Osun United (Osun) 2-0 Coal City Youths (Enugu)

    FC Lokoja (Kogi) 0-2 El-Kanemi Babes (Borno)

    Kwara United (Kwara) 4-0 Sokoto United (Sokoto)

    Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) 1-2 Plateau United (Plateau)

    ABS FC (Kwara) 2-1 Enyimba FC (Abia)

    Yobe Desert Stars (Yobe) 1-1 Kano Pillars (Kano) (6-5 penalties)

    Abia Warriors FC (Abia) 1-0 Crown FC (Oyo)

    FRSC FC (FCT) 1-0 Potiskum Academy (Yobe)

    Almar FC (Ogun) 0-0 Spartan FC (Lagos) (5-3 penalties)

    Moyero FC (Ondo) 0-2 Akwa Starlets (Akwa Ibom)

    AITEO Cup National Preliminaries Results

    Minda FC (Benue) 1-3 Tornadoes Feeders (Niger)

    Moyero FC (Ondo) 3-1 Fashmog FC (Ekiti)

    Young Talent (Sokoto) 2-5 Halfa FC (Jigawa)

    Ayade Babes (Cross River) 1-0 Lexington FC (Taraba)

    Kaka FC (Kaduna) 0-0 Potiskum Academy (Yobe) (5-6 penalties)

    FC Galadima (Kebbi) 1-1 Jarma FC (Zamfara) (5-4 penalties)

    Sam Daddy FC (Imo) 0-2 Coal City FC (Enugu)

    Spartan FC (Lagos) 3-1 JCTC FC (Ogun)

    IfeanyiUbah Feeders (Nnewi) 2-2 Cynosure FC (Ebonyi) (4-3 penalties)

    George Turnah (Bayelsa) 1-3 Ngwa FC (Ebonyi)

  • Draw for Round of 16 matches in AITEO Cup

    Draw for Round of 16 matches in AITEO Cup

    Below are the Round of 16 fixtures in the AITEO Cup competition, following Thursday’s draw:

    WOMEN

    Pelican Stars Vs FC Robo Queens

    Confluence Queens Vs Sure Babes

    Bayelsa Queens Feeders Vs Edo Queens

    Rivers Angels Vs Ben Women FC

    Sunshine Queens Vs Bayelsa Queens

    Beautiful Tours Vs Nasarawa Amazons

    Jokodolu Babes Vs Abia Angels

    Osun Babes Vs Ibom Angels

    MEN

    FC Abuja Vs Niger Tornadoes

    Akwa Starlets/Doma United Vs Plateau United

    Ngwa FC Vs Sunshine Stars

    Osun United Vs El-Kanemi Babes

    Unicem Rovers Vs ABS FC

    Akwa United/Yobe Desert Stars Vs Shooting Stars

    Ekiti United Vs Katsina United Feeders

    FC IfeanyiUbah Vs Heartland FC

    * All fixtures are for Sept. 13, with the matches going into a replay at the home of Team B on Sept. 16 in case of a draw in any of them.