Nigerian Football
AITEO Cup: Troubled versus Embittered as Shooting Stars Face Akwa United
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Shooting Stars, whose life in the next season is precariously placed on life supporting machine until the abandoned Gombe versus Wikki Tourists match is decided faces another acid test in Nigeria’s national Cup this Wednesday facing an embittered Akwa United whose loss of continental ticket is traceable to the 0-1 loss to Shooting Stars in the penultimate match day of the Nigerian top league.
Shooting Stars will need for survival, all elements of fair play that will see a relegated and consequently nothing at stake Gombe United beating fellow Gombe State team, Wikki Tourists and drag both teams into relegation.
The embittered Akwa United host the troubled Shooting Stars in Uyo in an encounter that the former lords of Nigerian football will be seeking redemption.
It is the Round of 16 of the rebranded Nigerian national cup which is now the AITEO Cup. Akwa United won the national cup two seasons ago while the Shooting last won it in ages past – 22 years ago after a 3-0 defeat of Katsina United in Lagos. The potentially explosive Akwa United versus Shooting Stars encounter is the high point of the Round of 16 in which replay will feature in the home ground of the away teams in the event of ties.
In what is a proper double-header contrary to the misuse of the word in the Nigerian media, the Akwa United versus Shooting Stars will be preceded by another AITEO Cup curtain raiser duel as Akwa Starlets take on Nigeria’s newly crowned league champions, Plateau United. The fans at the sumptuous Godswill Akpabio Stadium will therefore get to watch two matches for the price of one – a double header!
Will the two Akwa State government sponsored teams be lucky enough to get to the quarter finals? Events on Wednesday will offer the answer.
In other matches, Ekiti United are home to Katsina United, while relegated ABS FC will visit Unicem Rovers (conquerors of Enugu Rangers in the Round of 32) in Calabar, and Heartland FC of Owerri, close to NPFL return, will tackle FC IfeanyiUbah in Nnewi.
In the women’s competition, champions Rivers Angels take the pitch against Ben Women at the Yakubu Gown Stadium, as Pelican Stars host FC Robo Queens in Calabar and Nasarawa Amazons are away to Beautiful Tours in Abuja.
AITEO Cup Round of 16 Matches
MEN
FC Abuja Vs Niger Tornadoes – Area 3 Stadium (4pm)
Akwa Starlets Vs Plateau United – Godswill Akpabio Stadium (2pm)
Ngwa FC Vs Sunshine Stars – Abakaliki Township Stadium (4pm)
Osun United Vs El-Kanemi Babes – Oshogbo Township Stadium (4pm)
Unicem Rovers Vs ABS FC – UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar (4pm)
Akwa United Vs Shooting Stars – Godswill Akpabio Stadium (4pm)
Ekiti United Vs Katsina United Feeders – Oluyemi Kayode Stadium (4pm)
FC IfeanyiUbah Vs Heartland FC – Ifeanyi Ubah Stadium (4pm)
WOMEN
Pelican Stars Vs FC Robo Queens – UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar (2pm)
Confluence Queens Vs Sure Babes – Confluence Stadium, Lokoja (4pm)
Bayelsa Queens Feeders Vs Edo Queens – Nembe Stadium (4pm)
Rivers Angels Vs Ben Women FC – Yakubu Gowon Stadium, PH (4pm)
Sunshine Queens Vs Bayelsa Queens – Akure Township Stadium (4pm)
Beautiful Tours Vs Nasarawa Amazons – Area 3 Stadium (2pm)
Jokodolu Babes Vs Abia Angels – Lekan Salami Stadium (4pm)
Osun Babes Vs Ibom Angels – Oshogbo Township Stadium (2pm)
Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.
On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.
The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.
They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.
The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.
On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.
Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles.
Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.
“I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.
According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.
Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.
Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job. But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.
He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.
To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”
The balls hit the nets 17 times this Sunday as the Nigeria Premier League Season 2024/25 burst into life this Sunday.
The first of the goals was from Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni who converted a 24th minute penalty kick against Katsina United in an eventual 1-0 home win.
Another star-man of the the day is Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta who has become the season’s first hat-trickster. His three goals in the 65th , 70th and 73rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.
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