Champions of the 2021 edition of Nigeria’s FA Cup (now called Federation Cup), Bayelsa United were bundled out of the competition at the first time of asking in the national phase of the Men’s edition.
Bayelsa United lost on penalties to amateur football club, Essien Ayi FC of Cross River State after playing 1-1 in regulation time. The Calabar-based side won the shootout 5-3 to Round of 32 of the competition.
Progress was secured for several teams in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). These include Group A soar away leaders Bendel Insurance, Sunshine Stars, Shooting Stars, Gombe United, Lobi Stars, and Plateau United. Others are El-Kanemi Warriors, Nasarawa United. Some of them walkover their opponents.
The “biggest” fixture of this round – Rivers United versus Enyimba is rescheduled to allow the NPFL defending champions prosecute a continental assignment.
Today, there is a head-to-head clash involving NPFL sides – Wikki Tourists and Akwa United. They will file out at the University of Enugu Enugu Campus from 4 pm. Other NPFL teams on the card are Kwara United and Rangers.
All the results (Men)
Heartland FC (Imo) 2 Jedo FC (Sokoto) 0
Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) 1 Essien Ayi FC (Cross River) 1 (3-5 after penalties)
Ahudiya FC (Abia) 1 Jigawa Golden Stars (Jigawa) 0
ABS FC (Kwara) 0 Bendel Insurance FC (Edo) 1
Standard FC (Kaduna) 4 Ekiti United (Ekiti) 3
FC Basira (Nasarawa) 0 Sunshine Stars (Ondo) 2
EFCC FC (FCT) 7 Katukan Tsafe FC (Zamfara) 2
Warri Wolves (Delta) 4 Beyond Limit FC (Ogun) 0
3SC (Oyo) 4 Adamimogo FC (Ondo) 3
Mighty Jets (Plateau) 3 Niger Tornadoes Feeders (Niger) 0 (W/O)
Malumfashi FC (Katsina) 0 Gombe United (Gombe) 1
Osun United (Osun) 3 Katsina United (Katsina) 0 (W/O)
Bendel Insurance Feeders (Edo) 4 Maikunkele FC (Niger) 0
Lobi Stars (Benue) 2 FC One Rocket (Akwa Ibom) 2 (5-3 after penalties)
Jama United (Zamfara) 0 Plateau United (Plateau) 3 (W/O)
Ingas FC (Enugu) 3 Novia FC (Adamawa) 0
El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) 2 De Cardinal FC (Rivers) 0
Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) 2 Kebbi United (Kebbi) 0
DMD FC (Borno) 2 ABJ FC (Bauchi) 0
Ikorodu City (Lagos) 3 Crusader FC (Bayelsa) 0
FC Ebedei (Ekiti) 3 Hope of Glory FC (Cross River) 0
Yobe Desert Stars (Yobe) 3 Igbajo FC (Osun) 4
Ilaji FC (Oyo) 0 Kano Pillars (Kano) 3 (W/O)
Ozalla FC (Anambra) 0 Doma United (Gombe) 3
Kogi United Feeders (Kogi) 1 Edel FC (Anambra) 4
Thursday’s matches (Men)
Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) v Akwa United FC (Akwa Ibom) – UNEC Enugu – 4pm
Cynosure FC (Ebonyi) v Kano Pillars Jnr (Kano) – Lokoja – 4pm
Gateway United (Ogun) v Kwara United (Kwara)- Ibadan – 2pm
Adamawa United (Adamawa) v Rangers Int’l (Enugu) – Goal Project Abuja – 4pm
Green Berets FC (Kaduna) v FR Ebunuja (Imo) – Lokoja – 2pm
Mailantarki FC (FCT) v Kogi United (Kogi) – Jos – Noon
Rivers United (Rivers) v Enyimba FC (Abia) – Uyo (postponed)
Women
Akwa Angels (Akwa Ibom) v Dannaz Ladies (Lagos) – Asaba – 4pm
Credit: NFF Communications Department