Three of the semi-finalists of the President Federation Cup are from the elite division of the Nigeria football league, the NPFL. That is the outcome of the quarter-final duels played at the weekend.

The only lower division sides are Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi State, who beat NPFL sides, Nasarawa United, on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Abakaliki FC will now face Ikorodu City in the semi-finals. The Lagos club is chasing a ticket for the CAF Confederation Cup from two fronts.

They are currently fourth on the log of the NPFL, seeking a third position that will earn them the ticket to the continent.

Should they also win the President Federation Cup, they will also qualify for the Confederation Cup.

The other contestants are Kwara United, who came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Akwa United and eventually scaled the quarter-final hurdles by winning 5-4 on penalties.

Former Nigerian champions, Enugu Rangers, are also back in contention for a continental ticket as they also crossed the quarter-finals hurdle. They beat Plateau United to set up a semifinal clash with Kwara United.  

Men’s Quarter-Final Results

• Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi) 1-1 Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) – Abakaliki FC win 5-4 on penalties
• Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) 0-1 Ikorodu City (Lagos)
• Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) 2-2 Kwara United (Kwara) – Kwara United win 5-4 on penalties
• Plateau United (Plateau) 0-1 Rangers Int’l (Enugu) 

Men’s Semi-Final Fixtures

• Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi) Vs Ikorodu City (Lagos) – 17/05/25
• Kwara United (Kwara) Vs Rangers Int’l (Enugu) – 17/05/25

Women’s Round of 16 Results

• Rivers Angels (Rivers) 5-0 First Mahi Babes (Ebonyi)
• Remo Stars Ladies (Ogun) 2-1 Dannaz Ladies (Lagos)
• Delta Queens (Delta) 0-1 Ibom Angels (Akwa Ibom)
• Onimarg (Ondo) 0-5 Heartland Queens (Imo)
• Osun Babes (Osun) 0-3 Edo Queens (Edo)
• Mighty Jets Mata (Plateau) 0-6 Unification FC (Lagos)
• Sunshine Queens (Ondo) 2-1 Confluence Queens (Kogi)  
• Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa) 2-1 Bayelsa Queens (Bayelsa)

 Women’s Quarter-Final fixtures

• Rivers Angels (Rivers) Vs Remo Ladies (Ogun) – Benin City – 07/05/25 – 1pm
• Ibom Angels (Akwa Ibom) Vs Heartland Queens (Imo) – Aba – 07/05/25 – 1pm
• Edo Queens (Edo) Vs Unification Ladies (Lagos) – Ijebu-Ode – 07/05/25 – 1pm
• Sunshine Queens (Ondo) Vs Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa) – Awka – 07/05/25 – 1pm

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The star match of the President Federation Cup Round of 16 is the potentially epic confrontation of Enugu Rangers and Bendel Insurance.

The history of the Nigerian National Cup is littered with the epic duels of the two who have three times contested the final matches in 1978, 1981 and recently in 2023.

They clash again four steps before the final match. The two teams were involved in two of the most memorable final matches of Nigeria’s Cup competition in its 80-year history, with honours shared in 1978 and 1981.

The Benin Arsenal tore apart the form books to shock the nation’s football fraternity by spanking Rangers 3-0 in the final in Lagos in 1978, but the Flying Antelopes somewhat repaid the compliment with a 2-0 win at the same venue in 1981.

The setting for this Round of 16 clash is also in Lagos, though a different venue. But fireworks are expected by the waterfront from two teams aspiring for continental football.

Two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC, who eliminated Cup holders El-Kanemi Warriors in the Round of 32, will take on Abakaliki FC at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.

Nasarawa United and Bayelsa United will square up to each other in the university town of Anyigba, while Warri Wolves and Wikki Tourists battle things out in the Federal Capital, Abuja.

Two great entertainers, Ikorodu City and Beyond Limits will be at each other’s jugular at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, where Solution FC will tango with Kwara United in an earlier game. Plateau United will confront Osun United in Anyigba.

 Akwa United and Inter Lagos are at loggerheads in Abuja.       

Round of 16 fixtures (Men) on Wednesday

• Enyimba FC (Abia) Vs Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi) – Asaba – 4pm
• Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) – Anyigba 10am
• Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) – Area 3 Abuja – 1 pm
• Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Beyond Limits (Ogun) – Benin City – 4 pm
• Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) Vs Inter Lagos (Lagos) – Area 3 Abuja – 4 pm
• Solution FC (Anambra) Vs Kwara United (Kwara) – Benin City – – 10 am
• Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Osun United (Osun) – Anyigba – 1 pm
• Bendel Insurance (Edo) Vs Rangers Int’l (Enugu) – MJA Lagos – 4 pm

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BY IKENNA NWOKEDI

Nearly half of the Nigerian clubs that made it to the Round of 32 of the President Federation Cup are from the second-tier league, the Nigerian National League (NNL).

There are 15 clubs from the NNL and that has thrilled the president of the 36-club league, Godwin Enakhena, hailing the preponderance of the NNL clubs in the national cup as a positive development.

 The body of club owners goes by the acronym, NALCOMA which translates to Nigeria National League Club Owners and Managers Association.

Enakhena described the dominance of the NNL clubs as an improved performance over that of the previous season.

He therefore foresees an NNL club winning the 2025 edition of the oldest football competition in Nigeria, replicating the feat of El Kanemi in last year’s edition when they outwitted Abia Warriors in the final match.

The 15 NNL clubs who made the President Federation Cup Round of 32 are Basira FC, Crown FC, Warri Wolves, Gombe United, Solution FC, Osun United, Beyond Limits and Inter Lagos. Others are Wikki Tourists, Adamawa United, Ijele FC, Abakaliki United, Zamfara United, Rovers of Calabar and Mighty Jets.

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