After claiming this year’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPF) trophy, during the concluded Championship play-offs in Lagos, Enyimba will return to the pitch today (Saturday) to begin their quest for domestic double with Aiteo Cup Round of 64 clash against Kano Pillars Feeders in Ilorin, Completesports.com reports.
The People’s Elephant have won the league title eight times, the highest by any club, bringing their total trophy haul to 28 since 2000 when the current management lead by Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu assumed office.
On the road to their 8th league title triumph, Enyimba slumped to a 2-0 defeat in the hands of Kano Pillars at the Agege Stadium Lagos. This Aiteo Cup tie thus presents the two-time CAF Champions League champions a golden opportunity to bury the ghost of that defeat.
This ambition will therefore more than anything else, set the tone for the Round of 64 clashes and further electrify the Ilorin Stadium atmosphere, venue of the today’s match.
A win for the favourites, Enyimba, will only push the coach Usman Abd’Allah charges closer to their season’s double trophy dream.
The showdown at Ilorin is not the only big match slated for today as Enugu Rangers will equally confront Niger Tornadoes Feeders at the Adamasingba Stadium, Ibadan.
Rangers finished third in the NPFL Championship play-offs, a performance that has guaranteed them a place in the 2019/2020 CAF Confederation Cup campaign.
But the Gbenga Ogunbote charges will be gunning for a silverware this term, hence they are tightly screwing their heads onto their necks for success over the Tornadoes Feeders today.
Abia Warriors, another NPFL side, will face Heartland Comets in an Oriental Derby at nearby Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
AITEO CUP ROUND OF 64 FIXTURES THIS WEEKEND
Saturday, June 15 2019
Rangers Vs Tornadoes Feeders (Ibadan)
Kebbi United Vs Lobi Stars (Kaduna)
Abia Warriors Vs Heartland Comets (Enugu)
Ambassador FC Vs Yobe Desert Stars (Bauchi)
Rivers United Vs FC Timber Loader (Lafia)
Sokoto United Vs Akwa United (Abuja Goal Project)
Walli Flamingoes Vs Delta Force (Abuja Goal Project)
Gombe United Vs FC Ifeanyi Ubah Feeders (Lokoja)
Niger Tornadoes Vs Fasbir FC (Birnin Kebbi)
Enyimba FC Vs Kano Pillars Feeders (Ilorin)
Gwandu United Vs Katsina United (Gusau)
Jigawa Golden Stars Vs Insurance FC (Minna)
Setraco United Vs Plateau United (Makurdi)
Wikki Tourists Vs Qatar FC (Damaturu)
Kwara United Vs Ben Ayade FC (Neros Nanka)
Sunday June 16 2019
Aspire FC Vs Kano Pillars (Abuja Goal Project)
Layin Zomo FC Vs Sunshine Stars (Lokoja)
Katsina United Feeders Vs Nasarawa United (Kaduna)
Police Osogbo Vs El-Kanemi Warriors (Lafia)
By Sab Osuji
