The draw for the round of 64 of this year’s Federation Cup was held on Wednesday evening, and one of the standout fixtures is the clash between Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions Rivers United and Enyimba FC, Nigeria’s most successful club.
Preview
Rivers United is Nigeria’s remaining representative in the CAF competitions this season and will face the Elephants, who denied them a place in the CAF Confederation Cup group stages in 2021.
Enyimba last won the national cup in 2014 and will have to overcome the Pride of Rivers if they want to pursue a fifth crown.
Enyimba, under the tutelage of coach Finidi George, will have their work cut out for them against Rivers United, who have been in excellent form this season. Rivers United clinched their first-ever league title last season and have continued to impress this term.
Both teams boast a wealth of talent, and the clash promises to be a thrilling encounter. The fixture will undoubtedly be a test of Enyimba’s mettle as they aim to bounce back from their recent struggles.
Other High-Profile Fixtures
The draw also threw up other intriguing fixtures, including 2017 champions Akwa United, who will face Wikki Tourists. In another interesting matchup, Kwara United will lock horns with Gateway United.
The Federation Cup
The Federation Cup is Nigeria’s oldest football competition since 1945. It is a knockout competition that involves clubs from all tiers of Nigerian football. The winner of the competition represents Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup.
All rounds of 64 matches in the men’s competition will hold on Wednesday, 26 April.
The Round of 64 fixtures
- Heartland FC (Imo) vs Jedo FC (Sokoto)
- Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) Vs Essien Ayi FC (Cross River)
- Ahudiya FC (Abia) Vs Jigawa Golden Stars (Jigawa)
- ABS FC (Kwara) Vs Bendel Insurance FC (Edo)
- Standard FC (Kaduna) Vs Ekiti United (Ekiti)
- FC Basira (Nasarawa) Vs Sunshine Stars (Ondo)
- EFCC FC (FCT) Vs Katukan Tsafe FC (Zamfara)
- Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) Vs Akwa United FC (Akwa Ibom)
- Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Beyond Limit FC (Ogun)
- 3SC (Oyo) Vs Adamimogo FC (Ondo)
- Mighty Jets (Plateau) Vs Niger Tornadoes Feeders (Niger)
- Malumfashi FC (Katsina) Vs Gombe United (Gombe)
- Osun United (Osun) Vs Katsina United (Katsina)
- Bendel Insurance Feeders (Edo) Vs Maikunkele FC (Niger)
- Cynosure FC (Ebonyi) Vs Kano Pillars Jnr (Kano)
- Lobi Stars (Benue) Vs FC One Rocket (Akwa Ibom)
- Jama United (Zamfara) Vs Plateau United (Plateau
- Rivers United (Rivers) Vs Enyimba FC (Abia)
- Ingas FC (Enugu) Vs Novia FC (Adamawa)
- El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) Vs De Cardinal FC (Rivers)
- Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs Kebbi United (Kebbi)
- DMD FC (Borno) Vs ABJ FC (Bauchi)
Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Crusader FC (Bayelsa) - Gateway United (Ogun) Vs Kwara United (Kwara)
- FC Ebedei (Ekiti) Vs Hope of Glory FC (Cross River)
- Yobe Desert Stars (Yobe) Vs Igbajo FC (Osun)
- Adamawa United (Adamawa) Vs Rangers Int’l (Enugu)
- Ilaji FC (Oyo) Vs Kano Pillars (Kano)
- Green Berets FC (Kaduna) Vs FR Ebunuja (Imo)
- Ozalla FC (Anambra) Vs Doma United (Gombe)
- Kogi United Feeders (Kogi) Vs Edel FC (Anambra)
- Mailantarki FC (FCT) Vs Kogi United (Kogi)
