In the tradition of knock-out competitions such as the FA Cups, shocks are always expected. For the President Federation Cup in Nigeria, multiple time winners as well as league leaders, Enugu Rangers are already eliminated.

No fewer than four Nigeria Premier League clubs are doomed to make the exit at the Round of 32.

Ten of the Premier League clubs are already paired and as such, half of that number will be eliminated before the Round of 16.

Paired are Lobi Stars and Shooting Stars both of which are prospective continental competition aspirants next season.

Similarly, Plateau United are pitched against Sunshine Stars just as Rivers United will face Niger Tornadoes. Doma United are up against Kano Pillars while a fifth clash of Premier clubs will see Bayelsa United who beat Nasarawa State’s FC Basira 2-0 facing fellow Premier League sides, Katsina United. 

Those Premier League clubs doomed for elimination may also be joined by their clans who will be shocked by lesser clubs at that stage of the competition.

Seventeen of the 20 top flight clubs entered the national preliminaries of the Federation Cup. Sixteen of them are still in the race.

Full Round of 32 Match-up

Bendel Insurance (Edo) Vs Wikki Tourists (Bauchi)  

EFCC FC (FCT) Vs Edel FC (Anambra)  

ABS FC (Kwara) Vs Kebbi United (Kebbi)  

Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) Vs Zamfara United Feeders (Zamfara)

Gombe United (Gombe) Vs El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno)  

Lobi Stars (Benue) Vs Shooting Stars (Oyo)

Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Coal City (Enugu)  

Hammola Int’l (Osun) Vs Inter Lagos (Lagos)

Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Kwara United (Kwara)  

Abia Warriors (Abia) Vs Sporting Supreme (FCT)

Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs Sokoto United (Sokoto)

FC One Rocket (Akwa Ibom) Vs Enyimba FC (Abia)  

Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Sunshine Stars (Ondo)   

Rivers United (Rivers) Vs Niger Tornadoes (Niger)

Katsina United (Katsina) Vs Bayelsa United (Bayelsa)

Doma United (Gombe) Vs Kano Pillars (Kano)

Six-time winners Enugu Rangers have been booted out of this year’s President Federation Cup at the very first hurdle, as they lost 5-6 on penalties to Kano Pillars following 1-1 draw in regulation time at the Bwari Township Stadium, Abuja on Thursday.

Mustapha Umar scored for ‘Sai Masu Gida’ early on but Chiedozie Okorie equalized for the ‘Flying Antelopes’ in the 38^th minute of the encounter. In the penalty shootout, both teams could still not be separated after the first five kicks each, leading to the session going to sudden death before the boys from Kano prevailed.

Cup holders Bendel Insurance are among the teams that have progressed to the Round of 32, after a slim 1-0 win over Stormers from Abeokuta, while Katsina United, Lobi Stars, Wikki Tourists, Warri Wolves, FC One Rocket, Kwara United and Inter Lagos took no prisoners with high-score wins over their opponents.

Former winners Shooting Stars and Enyimba barely scraped through by the skin of their teeth, needing penalty shootouts to overcome Solution FC of Anambra and Warinje FC of Bauchi respectively.

The Round of 32 is loaded with interesting fixtures, not the least a confrontation between Lobi Stars of Makurdi and Shooting Stars of Ibadan. Champions Bendel Insurance will be up against Wikki Tourists, while Gombe United will tackle El-Kanemi Warriors and Doma United take on Kano Pillars in flaming Savannah wars.

Two teams that made progress without kicking the ball, Plateau United and Sunshine Stars will be at each other’s jugular, and ambitious FC One Rocket will take their chances against two-time African champions Enyimba FC.

MEN’S ROUND OF 64 RESULTS

Bendel Insurance (Edo) 1-0 Stormers SC (Ogun)

Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) 5-0 Jr. Danburan (Katsina)

Osun United (Osun) 1-1 EFCC FC (FCT) – EFCC win 4-2 on penalties

Edel FC (Anambra) 4-0 Discovery Talent FC (Kebbi)

Zamfara United (Zamfara) 0-1 ABS FC (Kwara)

Kebbi United (Kebbi) 2-1 Ine Stars (Edo)

Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) 1-0 Cynosure FC (Ebonyi)

Mighty Jets (Plateau) 0-1 Zamfara United Feeders (Zamfara)

Gombe United (Gombe) 3-1 Karim United (Taraba)

El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) 2-0 Adanimogo FC (Ondo)

Lobi Stars (Benue) 6-1 Delta Marine (Delta)

Shooting Stars (Oyo) 1-1 Solution FC (Anambra) – Shooting Stars win 3-2 on penalties

Ikorodu City (Lagos) 3-0 Green Berets (Kaduna)

Coal City (Enugu) 3-0 Ekiti United Feeders (Ekiti)

Beyond Limits (Ogun) 1-1 Hammola Int’l (Osun) – Hammola Int’l win 4-3 on penalties

Inter Lagos (Lagos) 6-0 May Frank (Cross River)

Warri Wolves (Delta) 5-1 Lautai FC (Jigawa)

Kwara United (Kwara) 4-1 Rovers FC (Cross River)

Abia Warriors (Abia) 4-2 Ilaji FC (Oyo)

Sporting Supreme (FCT) 3-0 PCM FC (Ebonyi)

Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) 1-0 FC Bako (Kogi)

Sokoto United (Sokoto) 2-2 Ofirima FC (Rivers) – Sokoto United win 4-1 on penalties

FC One Rocket (Akwa Ibom) 5-0 Fr. Eburuaja (Imo)

Enyimba FC (Abia) 1-1 Warinje FC (Bauchi) – Enyimba FC win 7-6 on penalties

Plateau United (Plateau) 3-0 Ekiti United (Ekiti) – W/O

Sunshine Stars (Ondo) 3-0 Jedo Academy (Sokoto) – W/O  

Rivers United (Rivers) 1-0 Ikukuoma FC (Imo)

Niger Tornadoes (Niger) 3-1 Niger Tornadoes Feeders (Niger)

Katsina United (Katsina) 7-1 Dutse Strikers (Jigawa)

Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) 2-0 FC Basira (Nasarawa)

Doma United (Gombe) 3-0 Gamji Eaglets (Taraba)

Kano Pillars (Kano) 1-1 Rangers Int’l (Enugu) – Kano Pillars win 6-5 on penalties

The women’s teams will commence their quest  in this year’s President Federation Cup competition at the national level on Wednesday next week, when the Round of 32 matches will be played in nine centres across the Federation.

Uyo, Enugu, Asaba, Lafia, Ibadan, Benin City, Akure, Auchi and Abuja will host the 16 games. Thirteen of the matches will hold on Wednesday while the remaining three, in Asaba and Benin City, will take place on Thursday.

Cup holders Bayelsa Queens are up against Bright Future Queens of Enugu at the Uyo Township Stadium, while last year’s runners-up Rivers Angels tackle Ekiti Queens in Asaba.

Nasarawa Amazons will confront Suit De Queens from Oyo State in Enugu while Delta Queens take on Fortress Ladies of Edo in Akure.

WOMEN’S ROUND OF 32 MATCHES

Bayelsa Queens (Bayelsa) Vs Bright Future Queens (Enugu) – Uyo – 08/05/24 – 4pm

Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa) Vs Suit De Queens (Oyo) – Enugu – 08/05/24 – 4pm

Dannaz Ladies (Lagos) Vs Mighty Jets Mata (Plateau) – Enugu – 08/05/24 – 1pm

Remo Stars Ladies (Ogun) Vs Oske Leans (Rivers) – Asaba – 08/05/24 – 4pm

Abia Angels (Abia) Vs Castmong Ladies (Ogun) – Asaba – 08/05/24 – 1pm

Naija Ratels (FCT) Vs ON Youth Academy (FCT) – Lafia – 08/05/24 – 1pm

Heartland Queens (Imo) Vs Golden Sun (Bayelsa) – Asaba – 09/05/24 – 1pm

FC Robo Queens (Lagos) Vs Onimang FC (Ondo) – Ibadan – 08/05/24 – 4pm

Kwara Ladies (Kwara) Vs Ahudiya Queens (Abia) – Benin City – 08/05/24 – 1pm

Delta Queens (Delta) Vs Fortress Ladies (Edo) – Akure – 08/05/24 – 4pm

Sunshine Queens (Ondo) Vs Green Foot (Enugu) – Benin City – 08/05/24 – 4pm

Plateau United Ladies (Plateau) Vs Honey Badgers (Benue) – Lafia – 08/05/24 – 4pm

Gallant FC (Kaduna) Vs Osun Babes (Osun) – Auchi – 08/05/24 – 4pm

Confluence Queens (Kogi) Vs Delta Ladies (Delta) – Benin City – 09/05/24 – 4pm

Edo Queens (Edo) Vs Kada Queens (Kaduna) – Abuja – 08/05/24 – 4pm

Ekiti Queens (Ekiti) Vs Rivers Angels (Rivers) – Asaba – 09/05/24 – 4pm

Meanwhile, the men’s Round of 64 games will hold on Wednesday and Thursday this week in Abuja, Kaduna, Owerri, Lafia, Awka, Enugu, Benin City, Ibadan, Asaba, Ilorin, Aba and Kano. The 32 matches will produce the candidate-teams for the Round of 32.

MEN’S ROUND OF 64 MATCHES

Bendel Insurance (Edo) Vs Stormers SC (Ogun) – Abuja Area 3 – 01/05/24 – 4pm

Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) Vs Jr. Danburan (Katsina) – Kaduna ABS – 01/05/24 – 1pm

Osun United (Osun) Vs EFCC FC (FCT) – Awka – 01/05/24 – 4pm

Edel FC (Anambra) Vs Discovery Talent FC (Kebbi) – Abuja Goal Project – 02/05/24 – 1pm

Zamfara United (Zamfara) Vs ABS FC (Kwara) – Abuja Bwari – 01/05/24 – 4pm

Kebbi United (Kebbi) Vs Ine Stars (Edo) – Abuja Area 3 – 01/05/24 – 1pm

Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) Vs Cynosure FC (Ebonyi) – Owerri – 01/05/24 – 4pm

Mighty Jets (Plateau) Vs Zamfara United Feeders (Zamfara) – Kaduna ABS – 02/05/24 – 4pm

Gombe United (Gombe) Vs Karim United (Taraba) – Bauchi – 01/05/24 – 1pm

El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) Vs Adanimogo FC (Ondo) – Lafia – 01/05/24 – 4pm

Lobi Stars (Benue) Vs Delta Marine (Delta) – Enugu – 01/05/24 – 4pm

Shooting Stars (Oyo) Vs Solution FC (Anambra) – Benin City – 01/05/24 – 4pm

Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Green Berets (Kaduna) – Ilorin – 01/05/24 – 4pm

Coal City (Enugu) Vs Ekiti United Feeders (Ekiti) – Asaba – 01/05/24 – 4pm

Beyond Limits (Ogun) Vs Hammola Int’l (Osun) – Ibadan – 01/05/24 – 4pm

Inter Lagos (Lagos) Vs May Frank (Cross River) – Asaba – 02/05/24 – 4pm

Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Lautai FC (Jigawa) – Abuja Area 3 – 02/05/24 – 4pm

Kwara United (Kwara) Vs Rovers FC (Cross River) – Enugu – 01/05/24 – 1pm

Abia Warriors (Abia) Vs Ilaji FC (Oyo) – Benin City – 02/05/24 – 4pm

Sporting Supreme (FCT) Vs PCM FC (Ebonyi) – Asaba – 01/05/24 – 1pm

Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs FC Bako (Kogi) – Kaduna ABS – 01/05/24 – 4pm

Sokoto United (Sokoto) Vs Ofirima FC (Rivers) – Lafia – 02/05/24 – 4pm

FC One Rocket (Akwa Ibom) Vs Fr. Eburuaja (Imo) – Aba – 01/05/24 – 4pm

Enyimba FC (Abia) Vs Warinje FC (Bauchi) – Ilorin – 02/05/24 – 4pm

Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Ekiti United (Ekiti) – Enugu 02/05/24 – 4pm

Sunshine Stars (Ondo) Vs Jedo Academy (Sokoto) – Abuja Goal Project – 01/05/24 – 4pm  

Rivers United (Rivers) Vs Ikukuoma FC (Imo) – Aba – 02/05/24 – 4pm

Niger Tornadoes (Niger) Vs Niger Tornadoes Feeders (Niger) – Abuja Goal Project – 02/05/24 – 4pm

Katsina United (Katsina) Vs Dutse Strikers (Jigawa) – Kano – 01/05/24 – 4pm

Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) Vs FC Basira (Nasarawa) – Enugu – 02/04/24 – 1pm

Doma United (Gombe) Vs Gamji Eaglets (Taraba) – Bauchi – 02/05/24 – 4pm

Kano Pillars (Kano) Vs Rangers Int’l (Enugu) – Abuja Bwari – 02/05/24 – 4pm