2019 Aiteo Cup: Enyimba, Pillars, Rangers, 29 Others In Round 32
BY EDMOND ODOK – Newly crowned Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, Enyimba International Football Club of Aba and runners up in the just concluded Super Six tournament, Kano Pillars have progressed to the round of 32 in this year’s Aiteo Cup.
In one of the round of 64 encounters decided on Sunday, the People’s Elephants steamrolled the opposition to beat Kano Pillars Feeders team 3-1 inside the Kwara Stadium Complex in Ilorin.
The Aba-based club, who are eyeing a season’s double following their league victory, did not leave anything to chance in confirming predictions by soccer pundits that have clearly put them among the favourites to cart home the prestigious Aiteo trophy this year.
The pairing, which drew a sizable crowd to the Stadium, produced so much thrills and entertainment throughout the 90 minutes duration with Enyimba’s Gabriel Orok grabbing a brace on the day.
It was Orok, who opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a perfect effort to put Enyimba on the victory path. Parading mainly a second string side, the NPFL title holders were put on edge in the 23rd minute when Kano Pillars Feeders team drew level through team captain Umar Shehu, from the penalty spot.
However, the People’s Elephants restored their lead seven minutes later following brilliant teamwork that had point man Orok finishing beautifully to draw applause from the excited crowd.
Receiving a defence-splitting through-ball from the midfield, Enyimba’s Abdulrahman Bashir side-stepped some opposition before releasing Orok whose curling efforts rested in the far left corner of the net.
With pressure mounting from the Kano-based team, the League champions were on several occasions tested and they had to rely on experience to keep the scores at 2-1 till the end of the first 45 minutes.
The resumption of play in the second half saw Kano Pillars Feeders taking the fight to their Aba opponents but a tough Enyimba backline refused to cave-in despite the high-tensioned pressure.
Repite however came for Enyimba as home boy and former Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) of Ilorin striker, Bashir, put the game beyond reach with his 57th minute goal delivery.
It was a beautiful one-two exchange between Orok and Bashir that left the ex-ABS forward to do the damage with his perfect finishing that kept the scores at 3-1.
Results of others matches played in the round of 64:
Rangers 2 Tornadoes Feeders 0
Jigawa Golden Stars 1 Insurance FC 2
Niger Tornadoes 3 Fasbir FC 0
Kebbi United 0 Lobi Stars 1
Kwara United 3 Ben Ayade FC 0 (Walk-Over)
Aspire FC 0 Kano Pillars 4
Abia Warriors 1 Heartland Comets 0
Ambassador FC 1 Yobe Desert Stars 0
Rivers United 4 FC Timber Loader 0
Sokoto United 1 Akwa United 2
Walli Flamingoes 0 Delta Force 4
Gombe United 3 FC IfeanyiUbah Feeders 0 (Walk-Over)
Gwandu United 2 Katsina United 4
Police Osogbo 0 El-Kanemi Warriors 6
Setraco United 0 Plateau United 4
Wikki Tourists 4 Qatar FC 0
Layin Zomo FC 1 Sunshine Stars 2
Katsina Utd Feeders 0 Nasarawa United 1