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AITEO CUP: WIKKI TOURISTS, SUNSHINE STARS, OTHERS QUALIFY FOR GROUP STAGE

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BY APESIN ADEMOLA.

All but two of the Group Stage qualifiers are now known. The outstanding matches involve CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinalists Enyimba against Edo State’s Dynamite FC, as well as that of El-Kanemi Warriors v Katsina United Feeders FC.

Eleven top flight teams have so far survived the earlier rounds and will be among 16 teams to be drawn into four groups in determining the quarterfinalists.

They include reigning champions Akwa United and four other past winners – Kano Pillars, Enugu Rangers, Plateau United and Wikki Tourists.

Other Nigerian Professional Football League teams are Rivers United, Nasarawa United, Katsina United, Abia Warriors, Sunshine Stars and Kwara United.

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From the lower divisions are Supreme Court FC (Federal Capital Territory, Abuja), Kogi United FC (Kogi State) and J. Atete FC (Delta State). The group stage will hold from September 24 to September 28 at venues to be decided. The draw may be conducted on Monday.

The top two teams in each group after a round-robin will qualify for the quarterfinals to be held on October 3, while the semi-finals have been slated for October 7.

The grand finale is fixed for Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba on Sunday, October 14, 2018, a day to the deadline by the continental football body to register teams for the 2018/19 inter-club competitions.

Lobi Stars will represent the country in the CAF Champions League while the Aiteo Cup winners will contest in the CAR Confederation Cup.

 

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Results

 

(Round of 32):

  • Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) 4-1 Bayelsa United (Bayelsa)
  • Osun United (Osun) 0-1 Katsina United (Katsina),
  • Confine FC (Akwa Ibom) 0-2 Sunshine Stars (Ondo)
  • Mighty Jets (Plateau) 1-3 Kwara United (Kwara)
  • El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) v Katsina United Feeders (Katsina) (result expected)

 

 

 

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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