•Rangers, Plateau United, Ikorodu City also qualify

Enyimba of Aba’s floundering season reached an all-time low yesterday, when they succumbed to lower league’s Abakaliki FC 2-0 in a President Federation Cup round of 16 clash.

Enyimba are struggling in the ninth position in the 33-week-old Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL), which means that they cannot qualify for any continental championship through the league.

Their supporters were hoping that the Peoples Elephant will find a way back to Africa through the President Federation Cup, especially after their defeat of defending champions, El Kanemi Warriors, in the previous round. But they found Abakiliki FC too tough to handle at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

The Ebonyi boys opened scores in the 46th minute and made their victory certain in the 66th to the dismay of the former champions, who struggled in vain to come back into the game.

The win thus took Abakiliki FC to their first President Federation Cup quarterfinal.

Elsewhere, Nasarawa United rose above their travails to defeat Bayelsa United via a penalty shootout to qualify for the quarterfinals of this year’s President Federation Cup.

But the club rose above their worries to triumph in the dramatic round of 16 President Federation Cup tie against the team that defeated them in the final of the 2021 edition of the competition.

The regulation time ended 1-1 before the Solid Miners triumphed 5-3 in the ensuing penalty shootout in a game played at the Late Prince Abubakar Audu University Stadium, Anyigba, Kogi State.

Nasarawa United opened scores in the 49th minute from the spot through Anas Yusuf after Shina Kumatar was felled in the box, but Bayelsa United leveled scores in the 61st minute through Yahaya Ibrahim.

In the ensuing penalty shootout, Nasarawa United converted all their five kicks through Kabir Balogun, Utake Emmanuel, Salomon Chigoziem, Jack Benjamin, and Manga Mohammed, while goalkeeper Detan Ogundare saved Isa Owoyemi’s kick for Bayelsa United.

In other round of 16 games yesterday, Plateau United defeated Osun United 2-1 to qualify for the quarterfinals, Wikki Tourists beat Warri Wolves 4-3 through a penalty shootout after a 1-1 stalemate at regular time, just as Enugu Rangers had the better of Bendel Insurance at the Onikan waterfront with Godwin Obaje the goal scorer.

Kwara United also defeated Solution FC 3-0, Ikorodu City beat Beyond Limit 2-0, while Akwa United defeated Inter Lagos 1-0. (The Guardian)