AITEO Cup: Akwa United, Tornadoes, Sunshine Stars look good for quarter finals

A clutch of Nigeria Premier Football League teams including Akwa United, Sunshine Stars and Nasarawa United are the acknowledged top dogs as the Round of 16 matches of this year’s AITEO Cup competition take place on Saturday and Sunday in different centres of the Federation. Niger Tornadoes, who squeezed through to this stage with a 6-5 penalty shoot-out defeat of two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC have a date with Green Beret FC at the FIFA Goal Project inside the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. Akwa United have an interesting fixture against Kogi United, who also experienced the lottery of penalty shoot-out before edging out ambitious Kanta United following a 2-2 draw in regulation time. The boys from Uyo eased their way to this stage with a 3-0 spanking of CAF Cup aspirants Remo Stars. Both teams are engaged in the only match of the men’s competition coming up on Sunday, and at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. Sunshine Stars, big winners (5-1) over Rovers in the Round of 32, have a date with Katsina United at the Area 3 venue in the Federal Capital Territory, while Kano Pillars tackle DMD FC at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi. Heartland FC, who ejected multi-titlists Enugu Rangers after penalty shoot-out in Benin City, will be up against Dakkada of Uyo at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba. Lobi Stars will square up against Akure City at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus on Saturday. Nasarawa United, stretched taut by Sokoto United in a penalty shootout that eventually ended 11-10, will be up against inspired Bendel Insurance at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba, while El-Kanemi Warriors and Wikki Tourists will do battle in Jos. In the women’s event, Cup holders Bayelsa Queens will trade tackles with Abia Angels in Akure on Sunday, with Nasarawa Amazons and Confluence Queens in a potentially explosive encounter at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja also on Sunday. Heartland Queens, 2-1 winners over Dannaz Ladies in the earlier round, will be up against Delta Queens at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode. Last year’s runners-up FC Robo Queens, who dislodged Edo Queens 2-0 in the Round of 16, are rewarded with another big tie, this time against Royal Queens, who edged Osun Babes. Both teams take the pitch at the Abakaliki from 4pm on Sunday.   AITEO CUP COMPETITION 2022   ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES (MEN) Green Beret Vs Niger Tornadoes – 06/08/22 – FIFA Goal Project – 4pm Lobi Stars Vs Akure City Vs Niger Tornadoes – 06/08/22 – Enugu – 4pm Heartland FC Vs Dakkada FC – 06/08/22 – Asaba – 4pm Sunshine Stars Vs Katsina United – 06/08/22 – Area 3 Abuja – 4pm Akwa United Vs Kogi United – 07/08/22 – Enugu – 4pm DMD FC Vs Kano Pillars – 06/08/22 – Bauchi – 4pm El-Kanemi Warriors Vs Wikki Tourists – 06/08/22 – Jos – 4pm Bendel Insurance Vs Nasarawa United – 06/08/22 – Aba – 4pm   QUARTER FINAL FIXTURES (WOMEN) Bayelsa Queens Vs Abia Angels – 07/08/22 – Akure – 4pm Nasarawa Amazons Vs Confluence Queens – 07/08/22 – Abuja – 4pm Delta Queens Vs Heartland Queens – 07/08/22 – Ijebu-Ode – 4pm Royal Queens Vs FC Robo Queens – 07/08/22 – Abakaliki – 4pm   ROUND OF 32 RESULTS (MEN) Bayelsa United 0 Green Beret 0 (4-5 penalties) Enyimba International 0 Niger Tornadoes 0 (5-6 penalties) Doma United 0 Lobi Stars 3 Akure City Academy 2 Bendel Insurance Feeders 1 Rangers Int’l 1 Heartland FC 1 (7-8 penalties) Sunshine Stars 5 Rovers FC 1 Cynosure FC 1 Katsina United 3 Remo Stars 0 Akwa United 3 Kogi United 2 Kanta United 2 (5-4 penalties) DMD FC 0 Housing Corporation 0 (4-2 penalties) Zamfara United 0 Kano Pillars 5 Fulfill FC 0 El-Kanemi Warriors 1 Kwara United 1 Wikki Tourists 1 (3-4 penalties) Bendel Insurance 1 Ottasolo FC 1 (4-3 penalties) Sokoto United 1 Nasarawa United 1 (10-11 penalties)   ROUND OF 16 RESULTS (WOMEN) Bayelsa Queens 3 Niger Amazons 0 (W/O) Abruka Queens 1 Abia Angels 3 Naija Ratels 0 Nasarawa Amazons 1 Immaculate Queens 0 Confluence Queens 8 Honey Badgers 0 Delta Queens 2 Heartland Queens 2 Dannaz Ladies 1 Osun Babes 2 Royal Queens 3 Edo Queens 0 FC Robo Queens 2

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