Federation Cup :Plateau United Knock Enyimba out as Shooting Stars,Akwa Utd crash out
By Eagle Eye News24
Plateau United of Jos put behind them their 1 goal to 2 home loss to Remo Stars in the NPFL last Sunday in Jos to beat Enyimba FC of Aba in the Federation Cup round of .
Plateau United’s victory over the Aba Elephant means that Enyimba has crashed out of the Federation Cup after losing on penalties to Plateau United in round 32 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium,Benin on Wednesday.
Plateau emerged 3-2 winners from the penalty shootout after regulation time ended 2-2.
The Aba Elephants crashed out despite leading Plateau United by 2-0 with 15 minutes left on the clock. An own goal just before the break from Ifeanyi Emmanuel handed the Aba Millionaires a 1-0 lead at the break.
Enyimba were coasting to victory when Chilekwu’s stunning free-kick doubled the advantage with just 15 minutes to play.
However, a great come back from the Jos based side saw Enyimba lost grip of their lead as Plateau equalised to force the game into penalties.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu’s men eventually wrapped things up with a 3-2 win after Enyimba missed three of their spot kicks.
Eagle Eye News24 reports that Enyimba FC had earlier won through penalties in the Round of 64 when they defeated Rivers United by penalty shoot out.
Similarly Akwa United were defeated by a lower division side as they fell to EFCC FC of Abuja also through penalty shootout.
The game was decided from the spot after 90 minutes ended 1-1 before EFCC went ahead to win by 9-8 goals.
In other Federation Cup fixtures, Nigeria Professional Football League leaders Bendel Insurance advanced into the next round with a 1-0 win against Ahudiya.
Kwara United defeated Ikorodu City FC 3-1, Heartland FC defeated Essien Ayi 2-1 and Lobi Stars ran out 2-1 winners over Cynosure FC.
In Abuja,the Flying Antelopes of Enugu,Rangers International defeated Kano Pillars by two unreplied goals while relegation bound Nasarawa United edged out DMD of Borno by 3 goals to 2.
Meanwhile Warri Wolves proved a hard nut to crack for coach Gbenga Ogunbote and his Oluyole Warriors(Shooting Stars). Shooting Stars of Ibadan were unable to beat NNL side Warri Wolves, who forced the game into a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw.
The Stars missed two of their kicks while the Wolves missed just one for a 5-4 win.
In Osogbo, it was Kwara United who qualified for the round of 16 following a comfortable evening against Ikorodu City. Kadiri Samad was the hero and star of the day for the Afonja Warriors as he netted a brace in the easy 3-1 win.
Ahmed Jimoh scored the other goal for the NPFL strugglers who go through to the round of 16 consolidating from their 1 nil victory against NPFL side Nasarawa Utd to escape relegation.
With the results, Plateau United, Warri Wolves,Enugu Rangers,Nasarawa Utd,Bendel Insurance and Kwara United have advanced to the round of 16 of the Federation Cup.
The winner of the tournament will represent Nigeria in the 2024 CAF Confederations Cup.
