Nigerians will be on the look-out for another round of soccer artistry today as eight teams will be slugging it out to book places in the semi-finals of this year’s Federation Cup.
Doing the battles in four centres are Enyimba FC of Aba, Sharks of Port Harcourt, Prime FC of Osogbo and Gateway United of Abeokuta. Others include Giwa FC of Jos, Crown FC of Ogbomoso, Dolphins of Port Harcourt and Lobi Stars of Makurdi.
It will, indeed, be a fight-to-finish between the cup defenders, Enyimba, and Sharks at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja as both sides are strongly committed to progress in the competition and ultimately win the trophy this time out.
The Peoples Elephants eliminated Nembe City by 2 – 1 to get to this round of 8 while Sharks saw off the resistance of Dynamites of Benin by 2 – 0 to also make it from the quarter final stage.
Incidentally, the two teams are trailing each other on the Premier League log with Sharks occupying the 4th place, having raked 30 points from 19 matches, while Enyimba are 5th with 29 points from the same number of games. So, football fans that will throng the match venue are bound to witness an explosive encounter.
Speaking ahead of the tie, Enyimba head coach, Kadiri Ikhana, exuded the confidence that his wards are mentally and physically fit to drown Sharks.
Similarly in Kaduna, it will be another tough duel between two Oduduwa brothers as Prime FC of Oshogbo tango with Gateway FC of Abeokuta.
Prime defeated First Bank 3 – 2 through penalties to book a slot in the quarter finals, while Gateway also upset Bayelsa United FC of Yenagoa via 3 – 1 penalty kicks to earn their own ticket.
It is one encounter that the Ogun state soccer warriors have vowed not to joke with as they are poised to continue their impressive run in the competition and even get to the final.
General manager of Gateway, Prince Tunji Onatolu, said the target of the Nigeria National League (NNL) side is to finish top, hence he believed Prime have reached the end of the competition.
He said the team tactician, Henry Nwosu, had drilled his boys and corrected their lapses to ensure that they emerged victorious and go even beyond semi final for the first time in 27years since the defunct Abiola Babes of Abeokuta represented Ogun state in the 1987 final of the then “Challenge Cup” and won the most prestigious football competition in Nigeria.
“We have enjoyed massive support and encouragement from both the government and our fans in Ogun state that we cannot afford to disappoint them at this stage,” he said, adding that their famous victory against the Nigeria Premier League defending champions and leaders, Kano Pillars, in the round of 64 and the defeat of Bayelsa would further inspire his side to send Prime out of the competition.
Dolphins and Lobi Stars will square up in another interesting quarter final clash in Enugu. The Pride of Port Harcourt conquered El-Kanemi Warriors by 1-0 in the round of 16, while the Makurdi-based team overpowered Plateau United 6 – 5 on penalty shootout to remain in contention for the trophy.
Crown FC of Ogbomosho and Giwa FC will also renew their rivalry in the quarter final of the Federation Cup after both clubs overcame tough opponents in the round of 16. The Ajilete Boys held their nerves to beat highly rated Nasarawa United 5 – 4 on penalty kicks after the regulation time had ended 1-1.
Quarter-final fixtures
Enyimba v Sharks
Crown v Giwa
Prime v Gateway
Dolphins v Lobi
