Aiteo Cup: Rangers, MFM, Enyimba, Others Crash

Hameed Shittu in Ilorin

The AITEO Cup (formerly Federation Cup) lived up to it image of where clubs in top flight leagues are subdued by minnow. League defending champion, Rangers International of Enugu, MFM FC, Wikki Tourists, Rivers United and Enyimba FC of Aba were all bundled out of the Round of 64 games played wednesday.

Ilorin-based Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC sent the former CAF Champions League winners packing. Adeshina Gata, Yinka Adewale and Wasiu Alalade’s heroic performances was enough for ABS to claim a famous a 2-1 victory over the Aba Elephant.

It took the Saraki Boys only three minutes to go in front from the spot kick when Gata’s clear cut chance found Wasiu Alalade.

Enyimba Ghanaian goalkeeper Dauda Fatau had brought down Alalade for the penalty.
The visitors capitalised on an ABS defensive mix-up when Ernest Governor’s back pass was picked up by Ikechukwu Ibenegbu whose pass find an unmarked Eric Frimpong who easily tapped in from a close range in the 22nd minute.
Twelve minutes later, ABS should have doubled the lead when Adeshina Gata’s another clear cut chance was fired inches away from goal by Abubakar Chindo.

Three minutes before half time, Stephen Chukwude fantastic effort was well dealt with by Yinka Adewale in goal for ABS FC.

The Saraki Boys restarted the game better than the visitors as they pegged the Peoples Elephant to their half for most parts of the 2nd half.

One minute into the restart, Chindo’s pass picked up Alalade who was unmarked to head past Fatau to restore the hosts’ lead.

After the ABS second goal, the game became an end to end battle with the two sides searching for more goals.

In the 58th minute, Fatau had a wrong footing to dash an incoming Alalade the ball but the ABS striker slipped to give back the ball to the Enyimba’s keeper to clear for safety.

Five minutes before time, Alalade was presented with another opportunity to score his second of the game but Fatau was well positioned to catch from close range.

Speaking after the game, Henry Makinwa, said the victory was a sweet revenge to Enyimba’s 3-0 win on Sunday in Calabar during a Match-day 34 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) encounter.

“Today we played football tactically, technically, psychologically and physically to over power Enyimba. Going to Sunday’s game, if we can beat Enyimba, we can beat Plateau United,” Makinwa warned the league leaders in advance.

RESULTS
Ngwa FC 6-2 FC Galadima

Heartland 0-0 Insurance (5-4 penalties)

Katsina Utd Feeders 1-0 Aklosendi FC

AITEL FC 0-0 Unicem Rovers (3-5)

Mighty Jets 1-2 Sunshine Stars

Bayelsa Utd W/O FC Zamfara

Ede Utd 2-0 Sakaba United

IfeanyiUbah Feeders 2-1 Jigawa Golden Stars

Ekiti Utd 3-2 Dolphins FC

Rivers Utd 0-0 FC Atete (6-7 penalties)

Delta Warriors 2-0 Ayade Babes

FC Yarmalight 1-3 FC IfeanyiUbah

Shooting Stars 3-1 Dynamite FC

Kogi Utd Vs Rangers (Abandoned)

Nasarawa Utd 3-0 MFM FC

Doma Utd 1-1 Adamawa Utd (4-3 penalties)

Osun Utd 2-0 Coal City Youths

FC Lokoja 0 -2 El-Kanemi Babes

Kwara Utd 4-0 Sokoto Utd

Wikki Tourists 1-2 Plateau Utd

ABS FC 2 -1 Enyimba FC

Samba Kurna 2 -0 Wikki Tourists Feeders

Abia Warriors 1-0 Crown FC

FRSC FC 1-0 Potiskum Academy

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

Moyero FC 0 -2 Akwa Starlets

TODAY
Niger Tornadoes Vs El-Kanemi Warriors
Halfa FC Vs Akwa United
Tornadoes Feeders Vs FC Abuja

OUTSTANDING MATCHES
Lobi Stars Vs Katsina United (August 23)
Adamawa United Feeders Vs Cynosure FC (August 23)
Yobe Desert Stars Vs Kano Pillars (August 24)

TEAM THROUGH TO ROUND OF 32
Ngwa FC, Heartland FC, Katsina United Feeders, Unicem Rovers, Sunshine Stars, Bayelsa United, Ede United, FC IfeanyiUbah Feeders, Ekiti United, FC Atete, Delta Warriors, FC IfeanyiUbah, Shooting Stars, Nasarawa United, Doma United, Osun United, El-Kanemi Babes, Kwara United, Plateau United, ABS FC, Abia Warriors, FRSC FC, Almar FC, Akwa Starlets, Samba Kurna