Lobi Stars celebrating a goal in the NPFL. Photo: brillanet
At least half of the teams heading to Lagos on June 1 for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Super Six are in action on Wednesday, as Round of 16 fixtures of the 2023 National Federation Cup are decided at designated venues across the country.
The Super-Six teams still haunting for glory in the Federation Cup, which was inaugurated in 1945 as the Governor’s Cup and later renamed National Challenge Cup, are: Bendel Insurance of Benin, Lobi Stars of Makurdi and Sunshine Stars of Akure.
According to the fixtures made available by the NFF’s Director of Competitions, Ruth David, Bendel Insurance, who are undefeated in the Abridged League after 18 matches, may have their hands full when taking on NNL high-flyers and former multiple winners, Heartland FC of Owerri, at the Awka centre.
Sunshine Stars of Akure will slug it out with Abuja-based NNL side, EFCC FC, in Benin City; while Warri Wolves and Gombe United battle for a place in the quarter-finals, when facing off at the FIFA Goal Project pitch, inside Package B of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
The other Round of 16 fixtures pits Doma United FC, who got knocked off the top 3 in Group B of the NPFL on the final day, take on Edel FC from Oba in Anambra State, in Abuja.
FC Ebedei based in Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State will clash with former serial winners, Enugu Rangers, in Asaba; and there is another fixture scheduled to hold in Abuja, between Plateau United and Enugu-based Ingas FC, coached by former Super Eagles defender, Kingsley Obiekwu, alias Shagari.
Elsewhere, Insurance Feeders will test the might of Lobi Stars in Owerri; whilst relegated NPFL side, Nasarawa United will trade tackles with Kwara United of Ilorin for a place in the last eight.
Writing by Chinedum Ohanusi; Editing by Oluwaseyi Ajibade and Tony Okerafor