Federation Cup: Enyimba, 3SC, and other giants ousted by minions
The rich also cry they say, Wednesday was a day of weeping gnashing of teeth as giants of the NPFL were eliminated by lower in the ongoing Federation Cup.
Three former champions, Enyimba, Shooting Stars, and Akwa United, were eliminated by lower league clubs.
Nigeria Premier Football League holders Enyimba suffered a shocking 1-0 loss to Sokoto United at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja.
Enyimba missed from the spot twice in the game.
Shooting Stars and Akwa United also lost by the same scoreline to El-Kanemi Warriors and Kebbi United, respectively.
Elsewhere, Sunshine Stars recorded a 1-0 win against Rivers United.
Lucky Nwafor netted the decisive goal in the eighth minute.
Rivers United missed a penalty 19 minutes from time.
Meanwhile, Abia Warriors head coach Bethel Oji has blamed the weather for his team’s below-par showing against Kwara United in Ikenne.
The Umuahia club defeated the Harmony Boys 4-3 on penalties in their Federation Cup Round of 16 tie.
The game ended 1-1 in regulation time.
Oji, however, commended his players for adapting to the harsh weather conditions.
“In football, you can’t play the same way every week and the pitch and the hot weather also affected the players when the sun was out,” he stated in a post-match interview.
“But I thank God we were able to adapt early to get the job done.”
Abia Warriors will take on Sokoto United in the quarterfinals of the competition.
Full results
El-Kanemi 1-0 3SC
Ikorodu City 1-1 Inter Lagos (4-5 pen)
Kwara Utd 1-1 Abia Warriors (3-4 pen)
Kebbi Utd 1-0 Akwa Utd
Sokoto Utd 1-0 Enyimba
Katsina Utd 1-1 Pillars (7-8 pen)
Sunshine Stars 1-0 Rivers Utd
Wikki 0-1 EFCC
