Federation Cup Round of 32 Wrap: Enyimba, Shooting Stars and Kano Pillars crash out

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Three-time champions, Enyimba have been knocked out of the 2023 Nigeria’s Federations Cup by fellow Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side, Plateau United on Wednesday.

The star match of the Round of 32 ended in a 2-2 after regulation time taking the game into penalties before Plateau United won the shoot-out 3-2 to book a place in the Round of 16.

Elsewhere, Insurance Feeders edged Osun United 2-1 to also qualify for the Round of 16.

Warri Wolves also made it to the last eight after defeating Shooting Stars on penalties as the game ended 0-0 in regulation time.

Kadiri Samad’s brace and Ahmed Jimoh’s goal lifted Kwara United to a 3-1 win over Ikorodu City to also seal a place in the final 16.

Rangers International earned a 2-0 win against Kano Pillars thanks to Godwin Obaje’s brace, while Nasarawa United edged DMD FC 3-2 to seal a place in the Round of 16.

FC Ebedei thrashed Igbajo United 4-0 while Michael Olalusi’s brace lifted Sunshine Stars to a 2-0 win over Standard FC.

In Akure, Edel FC of Anambra edged Mailantarki of Abuja 1-0, while Charles Chibuike struck a hat-trick as Doma United secured a Round of 16 spot with a 4-0 victory over FR Ebunuajia at the Area 3 pitch in Abuja on Wednesday.

Chibuike gave the NPFL side a first-half lead just twelve minutes off a pass from Zaidu Moh’d before Haruna Aliyu’s bullet header extended United’s lead in the 52nd minute.

A beautiful interplay between Hillary Ekawu and Usman Musa ends with a beautiful cross from the right flank to find Aliyu at the far post who heads in past the keeper.

Bidemi who has been lively throughout the game ran past his marker from the left side to find Chibuike with a low cross and he tapped in his second.

His third was a brilliant individual effort by second-half substitute Usman Musa carved through the Ebunuajia’s defence to release Chibuike who made no mistake to score and claimed his third in the game.

Bendel Insurance of Benin defeated Ahudiya FC of Abia state 1-0 just as their Feeders bundle out NNL team Osun United after a 2-1 win in Lagos to progress to the round of 16 of the 2023 Federation Cup.

The NPFL group A leaders Insurance  had to dig deep to beat the little-known Ahudiya FC through Sarki Ismael’s solitary strike at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar in the 72nd minute.

On Thursday, Might Jets will face Gombe United on Thursday to wrap up the Round of 32.