Walkovers And Mass Withdrawals Disrupt The Aiteo Cup

As the 2022 Aiteo Cup competition enters the quarterfinal round, several clubs have pulled out, according to ANAEDOONLINE.NG.

There is widespread speculation that the teams’ actions were in retaliation for the Nigeria Football Federation nominating Kwara United of Ilorin for the CAF Confederation Cup, which is typically awarded to the Aiteo Cup champions.

As the NFF hurried to beat the deadline for its clubs’ representatives to the Confederation of Africa, Kwara United, who finished fourth in the NPFL last season, was listed as the nation’s second representative in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Niger Tornadoes, who defeated Dreams FC, Enyimba and Green Beret in the preliminary rounds, walked over Lobi Stars of Makurdi, who failed to show up for their quarter-final clash in Jos on Wednesday.

Kogi United also walked over Kano Pillars — who also didn’t show up in Makurdi — and were scheduled to face the winners of the clash between Wikki Tourists and Nasarawa United, but both the Solid Miners and the Tourists failed to turn up in Kaduna, which sealed Kogi United’s place in the final of the competition next Wednesday.

Aiteo Cup: Enyimba And Rangers Crash, Causing Numerous Upsets

Kogi United will now play the winners of the semi-final tie between Niger Tornadoes and Heartland.

Heartland defeated Enugu Rangers 4-1 in a penalty shoot-out after regulation time ended goalless on Thursday morning, the media officer of the Naze Millionaires Solomon Onu told ANAEDOONLINE.NG
This was after both clubs refused to dress up for the clash in Ilorin a day earlier.

Heartland had edged Dakkada and Katsina United in their previous rounds of the competitions.

This year’s finals of the Aiteo Cup for both men and women’s events hold at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa August 17.

Follow us on Facebook