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Tag: AITEO Cup

  • AITEO Cup: Three quarter-final matches hold Saturday

    AITEO Cup: Three quarter-final matches hold Saturday

    The cities of Jos, Kaduna and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja will witness top class football action this weekend as the quarter-final matches of this year’s AITEO Cup competition (men’s version) take place.

    Niger Tornadoes and Lobi Stars are the combatants in Jos to determine a slot in the semi finals while top-tier teams Wikki Tourists and Nasarawa United clash in Kaduna.

    Kogi United, the surprise team of this year’s competition, are up against Kano Pillars at the Area 3 Stadium, Abuja.

    It would be recalled that the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, at its meeting of 18th August adopted the resolutions of a peace meeting of Club representatives with NFF officials that agreed to a rebooting of the AITEO Cup Competition 2022 (men’s version) from the quarter-final stage.

    A notice to Football Associations of the States hosting the quarter-final matches has clarified that the fourth match between Heartland FC of Owerri and Katsina United FC is determined to have been won and lost, with Heartland FC the winners and already in possession of a semi-final ticket.

    AITEO CUP COMPETITION 2022

    QUARTER FINAL FIXTURES (MEN)

    Niger Tornadoes Vs Lobi Stars – 27/08/22 – Jos – 4pm

    Wikki Tourists Vs Nasarawa United – 27/08/22 – Kaduna – 4pm

    Kogi United Vs Kano Pillars – 27/08/22 – Area 3, Abuja – 4pm

  • FG Frowns at NFF Over Aiteo Cup Crisis, Domestic League Dis-Organization

    FG Frowns at NFF Over Aiteo Cup Crisis, Domestic League Dis-Organization

    The Federal Government has expressed dissatisfaction over the football crisis generated by the Aiteo/FA Cup imbroglio, as well as degradation of domestic league football in the country, due to inconsistent calendaring and other attendant problems.
    The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, through its Press and Public Relations Unit reacts to the latest crisis where football clubs have pulled out of the AITEO Cup.
    “It is unacceptable that teams were treated against the rules but according to other considerations not in the rule books. Our league has never sunk this low. Several times, through writing and verbal discussions, the Ministry has brought this to the attention of NFF and persons in charge of the Domestic league. Unfortunately, things are getting bad, instead of getting better. Federal Government will be left with no choice than to act to save the crumbling system in place and bring about desired changes.”
    “Federal Government is mandating the NFF to act swiftly and find encompassing and sustainable solutions to all contending issues around the Aiteo Cup. There is a race against time to act, so the NFF must swing to work swiftly to restore sanity,”
    “The NFF should know that a critical aspect of the country’s sports cannot be experiencing degradation due to bad management from the administrators and expect Government to keep quiet. Government will not stand idly by and watch our domestic football come to disgrace.”
  • AITEO Cup: Tornadoes, Heartland clash in semi finals in Ibadan

    AITEO Cup: Tornadoes, Heartland clash in semi finals in Ibadan

    Giant-killers Heartland FC of Owerri will square up with Niger Tornadoes of Minna in the first semi-final of this year’s AITEO Cup competition. The match will hold at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan on Sunday, 14th of August.

     Tornadoes, who had bumped Dreams FC, Tornadoes, who had bumped Dreams FC, Enyimba FC, and Green Beret on their way, walked over Lobi Stars of Makurdi, who failed to show up for their quarter-final clash in Jos on Wednesday. and Green Beret on their way, walked over Lobi Stars of Makurdi, who failed to show up for their quarter-final clash in Jos on Wednesday.

    Heartland, conquerors of Enugu Rangers on a penalty shoot-out, and who also edged Dakkada FC on penalties, saw the back of Katsina United at the Kwara Sports Stadium, Ilorin after another penalty shootout. The Owerri landlords won 4-1 in the shootout after both teams ended it 0-0 in regulation time.

    Kogi United, who walked over Kano Pillars in Makurdi, were programmed to meet the winner of the clash between Wikki Tourists and Nasarawa United. Both the Solid Miners and the Tourists failed to turn up in Kaduna. On that score, Kogi United are through to next week’s grand finale, to play the winner of the semi-final tie between Niger Tornadoes and Heartland FC.

       The grand finale of this year’s AITEO Cup competition, for both the men’s and women’s events, will hold at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa on Wednesday, 17th August.

  • AITEO Cup: Akwa United, Tornadoes, Sunshine Stars look good for quarter finals

    AITEO Cup: Akwa United, Tornadoes, Sunshine Stars look good for quarter finals

    A clutch of Nigeria Premier Football League teams including Akwa United, Sunshine Stars and Nasarawa United are the acknowledged top dogs as the Round of 16 matches of this year’s AITEO Cup competition take place on Saturday and Sunday in different centres of the Federation.

    Niger Tornadoes, who squeezed through to this stage with a 6-5 penalty shoot-out defeat of two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC have a date with Green Beret FC at the FIFA Goal Project inside the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

    Akwa United have an interesting fixture against Kogi United, who also experienced the lottery of penalty shoot-out before edging out ambitious Kanta United following a 2-2 draw in regulation time. The boys from Uyo eased their way to this stage with a 3-0 spanking of CAF Cup aspirants Remo Stars. Both teams are engaged in the only match of the men’s competition coming up on Sunday, and at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.

    Sunshine Stars, big winners (5-1) over Rovers in the Round of 32, have a date with Katsina United at the Area 3 venue in the Federal Capital Territory, while Kano Pillars tackle DMD FC at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi.

    Heartland FC, who ejected multi-titlists Enugu Rangers after penalty shoot-out in Benin City, will be up against Dakkada of Uyo at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba. Lobi Stars will square up against Akure City at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus on Saturday.

    Nasarawa United, stretched taut by Sokoto United in a penalty shootout that eventually ended 11-10, will be up against inspired Bendel Insurance at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba, while El-Kanemi Warriors and Wikki Tourists will do battle in Jos.

    In the women’s event, Cup holders Bayelsa Queens will trade tackles with Abia Angels in Akure on Sunday, with Nasarawa Amazons and Confluence Queens in a potentially explosive encounter at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja also on Sunday.

    Heartland Queens, 2-1 winners over Dannaz Ladies in the earlier round, will be up against Delta Queens at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode.

    Last year’s runners-up FC Robo Queens, who dislodged Edo Queens 2-0 in the Round of 16, are rewarded with another big tie, this time against Royal Queens, who edged Osun Babes. Both teams take the pitch at the Abakaliki from 4pm on Sunday.

     

    AITEO CUP COMPETITION 2022

     

    ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES (MEN)

    Green Beret Vs Niger Tornadoes – 06/08/22 – FIFA Goal Project – 4pm

    Lobi Stars Vs Akure City Vs Niger Tornadoes – 06/08/22 – Enugu – 4pm

    Heartland FC Vs Dakkada FC – 06/08/22 – Asaba – 4pm

    Sunshine Stars Vs Katsina United – 06/08/22 – Area 3 Abuja – 4pm

    Akwa United Vs Kogi United – 07/08/22 – Enugu – 4pm

    DMD FC Vs Kano Pillars – 06/08/22 – Bauchi – 4pm

    El-Kanemi Warriors Vs Wikki Tourists – 06/08/22 – Jos – 4pm

    Bendel Insurance Vs Nasarawa United – 06/08/22 – Aba – 4pm

     

    QUARTER FINAL FIXTURES (WOMEN)

    Bayelsa Queens Vs Abia Angels – 07/08/22 – Akure – 4pm

    Nasarawa Amazons Vs Confluence Queens – 07/08/22 – Abuja – 4pm

    Delta Queens Vs Heartland Queens – 07/08/22 – Ijebu-Ode – 4pm

    Royal Queens Vs FC Robo Queens – 07/08/22 – Abakaliki – 4pm

     

    ROUND OF 32 RESULTS (MEN)

    Bayelsa United 0 Green Beret 0 (4-5 penalties)

    Enyimba International 0 Niger Tornadoes 0 (5-6 penalties)

    Doma United 0 Lobi Stars 3

    Akure City Academy 2 Bendel Insurance Feeders 1

    Rangers Int’l 1 Heartland FC 1 (7-8 penalties)

    Sunshine Stars 5 Rovers FC 1

    Cynosure FC 1 Katsina United 3

    Remo Stars 0 Akwa United 3

    Kogi United 2 Kanta United 2 (5-4 penalties)

    DMD FC 0 Housing Corporation 0 (4-2 penalties)

    Zamfara United 0 Kano Pillars 5

    Fulfill FC 0 El-Kanemi Warriors 1

    Kwara United 1 Wikki Tourists 1 (3-4 penalties)

    Bendel Insurance 1 Ottasolo FC 1 (4-3 penalties)

    Sokoto United 1 Nasarawa United 1 (10-11 penalties)

     

    ROUND OF 16 RESULTS (WOMEN)

    Bayelsa Queens 3 Niger Amazons 0 (W/O)

    Abruka Queens 1 Abia Angels 3

    Naija Ratels 0 Nasarawa Amazons 1

    Immaculate Queens 0 Confluence Queens 8

    Honey Badgers 0 Delta Queens 2

    Heartland Queens 2 Dannaz Ladies 1

    Osun Babes 2 Royal Queens 3

    Edo Queens 0 FC Robo Queens 2

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  • AITEO Cup: Gateway United bundle out NPFL leaders Akwa United

    AITEO Cup: Gateway United bundle out NPFL leaders Akwa United

    Gateway United Football Club of Abeokuta on Wednesday in Abuja beat Akwa United FC of Uyo to advance into the Round of 16 of the ongoing 2021 AITEO Cup Competition.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the match played at the FIFA Goal Project pitch of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Gateway United scored through Ikechukwu Julius.

    The Nigeria National League (NNL) side scored in the opening minute of the second half to stun the Uyo-based Akwa United who presently lead the 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    The two teams however lost several goalscoring chances thereafter as both struggle to establish dominance.

    Speaking after the Round of 32 match, the Head Coach of Gateway United, Akeem Busari, commended the Akwa United team for their doggedness.

    “Being NPFL table-toppers, we give kudos and respect them because they put in their best,” he said.

    Busari however dedicated the victory to the Ogun Governor, Dapo Abiodun, saying it was a birthday gift for him.

    On his part, the Assistant Coach of Akwa United, Umar Abdullahi, expressed disappointment that they lost to an NNL team.

    “We feel disappointed in the players. Even if we are going to lose, it should not be in the round of 32,” he said.

    In other matches played in the competition, Bayelsa United of Yenagoa defeated 2018 Cup champions Rangers International FC of Enugu.

    Sunshine Stars defeated Kogi United 6-5 after a penalty kicks shootout, following a 1-1 draw at full time, while Lobi Stars of Makurdi defeated Yobe Stars of Damaturu 1-0.

  • AITEO Cup final: 10,000 Rangers’ supporters to storm Asaba

    National Chairman of Rangers International FC Supporters’ Club of Enugu Ibuchukwu Nwodo on Tuesday said that the club would storm Asaba with over 50 buses and 10,000 die-hard fans to watch the final of AITEO clash.
    This is to enable them support the club during the clash between it and Kano Pillars FC in the final of 2018 Edition of the AITEO Cup (Federation Cup) on Oct. 24 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba in Delta.
    Nwodo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu that the supporters’ club would mobilise members from all the branches in Nigeria to travel to Asaba to support the ‘Flying Antelopes.’
    According to him, a five-man committee has been put in place to mobilise supporters across the country for the trip to Asaba.
    “We expect a tough challenge from Kano Pillars but with the way our team has been playing, I do not see us letting the cup slip through our fingers.
    “We, members of the supporters club, have put a committee in place to help us organise a smooth movement to Asaba and back with the trophy.
    “With the arrangement on ground, we hope to depart Enugu with at least, 50 buses comprising Marcopollo, Coaster and mini buses conveying our supporters to Asaba.
    `Our branches in Nnewi, Abakaliki, Onitsha and others have indicated interest to be in Asaba as well.
    “We are looking forward to mobilising over 10,000 of our members to storm Asaba, to drum support for our darling Rangers to a resounding victory, “he said.
    Nwodo is also a Special Assistant to the Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on Rangers Matters.
    On the qualification of Rangers for the Aiteo Cup final after eleven years, Nwodo said that it was a thing of joy.
    He said that the achievement had gone a long way to show the level of motivation the governor had extended to the club since he came to power.
    Nwodo said that Ugwuanyi was a strong supporter of the club and had never hidden his love for Rangers.
    “It is almost a dream come true and this is pay-back period from the players, for the cup to come back to Enugu after a long while.’’
    NAN