AITEO Cup: Kano Pillars soar in 5-0 win as Bayelsa United, Enyimba, others, crash out
by Oviri Kelvin, Sports Editor, Abuja
Kano Pillars thrashed Zamfara United 5-0 to proceed to the next round of the AITEO Cup round of 32 fixtures played yesterday across the federation.
Sai Masu Gida in the match did not leave any stone unturned as they dislodged Zamfara United with ease to herald their campaign to lift the trophy after Bayelsa United.
Recall that Pillars were relegated to the second-tier division in the recently concluded Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season and are in dire need of a ticket to play in the CAF Confederations Cup alongside Remo Stars that have qualified after finishing third place in the NPFL log.
In other matches, cup holders Bayelsa United and former champions Rangers International have been sent packing from this year’s AITEO Cup competition.
Two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC of Aba and CAF Confederation Cup aspirants Remo Stars were also victims as a good number of the 16 matches on Wednesday threw up interesting results.
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Champions Bayelsa United and Green Berets ended it 0-0 at the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus but Green Berets went ahead to win 5-4 on penalties.
Enugu Rangers were leading Heartland FC of Owerri at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City but the Imo State champions drew level and then went ahead to win 8-7 on penalties.
Enyimba and Niger Tornadoes failed to find the net over 90 minutes in Ijebu-Ode before penalty shoot-out came to the rescue and the Ikon Allah smiled home 6-5 winners, to reach the Round of 16.
In Abuja, Kwara United shot ahead in the first half against Wikki Tourists, who then levelled up and went ahead to win 4-3 on penalties at the FIFA Goal Project.
A marathon penalty shoot-out was needed to separate Nasarawa United and Sokoto United, who ended their tie 1-1 in Kaduna. The Solid Miners scraped through 11-10 after penalties and will be part of the action in the Round of 16 scheduled for the weekend.
| 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 (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 FIXTURES (MEN) |
| Green Beret Vs Niger Tornadoes |
| Lobi Stars Vs Akure City Vs Niger Tornadoes |
| Heartland FC Vs Dakkada FC |
| Sunshine Stars Vs Katsina United |
| Akwa United Vs Kogi United |
| DMD FC Vs Kano Pillars |
| El-Kanemi Warriors Vs Wikki Tourists |
| Bendel Insurance Vs Nasarawa United |
