The Round of 16 matches of the men’s section of this year’s AITEO Cup
competition will come alive on Wednesday with potentially explosive
encounters at the Confluence Stadium in Lokoja, Enyimba Stadium in Aba
and Kaduna’s Ahmadu Bello Stadium.
It will surely be a fight-to-finish in Lokoja when respected Tin City
lords, Plateau United take the pitch against in-form Nasarawa United
from Lafia. Plateau United, last winners of the Nigeria Professional
Football League, pushed Jigawa Golden Stars off the boat in the last
round while the Solid Miners got the better of Bendel Insurance.
In Kaduna, it is a northern derby between Katsina United – in the NPFL
– and Gombe United, accustomed to the NPFL but presently in the second
tier Nigeria National League. Both teams go for each other’s jugular
at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium to determine who grabs the ticket to the
quarter finals.
The Enyimba Stadium in Aba will welcome Heartland FC of Owerri and
resurgent Rivers United in a game of two Nigeria Professional Football
League battlers. Rivers United are eyeing success in this year’s NPFL
but they have a mountain to climb with Akwa United, Enyimba FC, Kano
Pillars and Nasarawa United all focused and angling for the diadem.
United may simply opt to concentrate more on the AITEO Cup.
The Pride of Rivers bumped Sokoto United in the Round of 32 while
Heartland upended the ambitions of Ekiti United.
In Abuja, surprise packets Green Beret FC, who closed the door on NPFL
side Warri Wolves, are up against another top tier side, Sunshine
Stars. Abia Warriors and Niger Tornadoes have a date at the Aper Aku
Stadium in Makurdi, and Lobi Stars will fancy their chances of a
quarter final place when they tackle Bayelsa United at Owerri’s Dan
Anyiam Stadium.
The Nnamzi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu is venue for the confrontation
between Wikki Tourists of Bauchi and Gateway FC of Abeokuta, while
former champions Kano Pillars and another surprise side, Kebbi United
(who gunned down Kwara United in the Round of 32) will lock horns at
the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna.
All matches kick off at 3pm.
AITEO CUP ROUND OF 16 (MEN)
Kano Pillars Vs Kebbi United (Minna)
Gateway FC Wikki Tourists (Enugu)
Green Berets Vs Sunshine Stars (Abuja)
Katsina United Vs Gombe United (Kaduna)
Abia Warriors Vs Niger Tornadoes (Makurdi)
Plateau United Vs Nasarawa United (Lokoja)
Heartland FC Vs Rivers United (Aba)
Bayelsa United Vs Lobi Stars (Owerri)
