Aiteo Cup: Pillars battle Sunshine, Rivers draw Tornadoes in quarter-final The Punch
Published 17 July 2021
Holders Kano Pillars and Sunshine Stars will clash in the quarter-finals of the Aiteo Cup in Lokoja on July 23,
Saturday PUNCH reports.
Pillars edged Kebbi United 3-2 on penalties after a goalless stalemate in the fourth round to set up the clash with Sunshine and midfielder
Tamara Ezekiel believes they can retain their title.
“We want to win everything as a football club and thank God we are through to the next round of the Aiteo Cup. It wasn’t an easy game against Kebbi United but we are happy that we are still in the competition. Retaining the Aiteo Cup is a priority for us,” he said.
Ahmed Musa
He may have failed in his quest at securing a club in mainstream Europe since leaving Saudi Arabia club-Al Nassr, marrying a third wife however was something that was easily achieved by Super Eagles’ captain, Ahmed Musa
In the last nine years, Super Eagles Captain Ahmed Musa has played for six different club and in the same number of years he had been able to tie the nuptial vow with three different women.
Though securing a move to Europe has not been easy for the Kano-born player, getting a third wife however comes handy, ascribing to speculation in some quarters that the former VVV Venlo attacker prioritise a third marriage to moving to Europe.
At the Dan Anyiam stadium in Owerri, Bayelsa United’s Emo James opened the scoring in the 19th minute before Okardi Inikurogba doubled the lead in the 45th minute to end Lobi Stars run in this year’s Aiteo Cup,
It will be recalled that the last encounter between both sides was during the Governor Nyesom Wike Pre-season Tournament last year in Port Harcourt where Bayelsa United emerged the only team that defeated Lobi Stars in one of the semi-final matches.
In the other results, Nasarawa United defeated Plateau United 3-1 while Kano Pillars squeezed past Kebbi United 3-2 on penalties after the game ended 0-0 in regulation time.
The Round of 16 matches of the men’s section of this year’s AITEO Cup
competition will come alive today 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.
Meanwhile, second placed Nasarawa United fought hard but went down 2-1 at FC IfeanyiUbah after Nonso Nzediegwu opened the scoring in the 28th minute before Chigozie Obasi equalised with his free-kick goal in the 34th minute. However, Uzochukwu Ifejiofor sealed victory for the ‘Nnewi millionaires’ in the 70th minute.
Although Kano Pillars also fell 1-0 at Sunshine Stars, they remain in third position with 55 points while Enyimba have dropped to fifth place after Rivers United fought back to beat Warri Wolves 2-1 to sneak into top four on the table.
In Aba, Kwara United suffered setback in their title chase as they lost 2-1 to Abia Warriors, Lobi Stars turned back Adamawa United 1-0 in Makurdi, Katsina United continued with their fine run in Lagos where they held MFM to a barren draw while Rangers survived Wikki Tourists’ scare to win 2-1 at the ‘Cathedral’.