AITEO Cup: NPFL clubs kept apart again as Women’s contest begins

There will be only one all-NPFL fixture in the Round of 32 of the 2018 AITEO Cup after clubs in the elite division were kept apart once again in the draws conducted in Abuja on Wednesday.

All elite club sides were drawn against lower division sides in the round of 64 ties decided last Sunday (September 9) and the same process has now been repeated for the next round.

Defending champions Akwa United who were the biggest winners in the last round were drawn against Nigeria National League (NNL) side Aklosendi FC of Nasarawa State in Enugu while former champions Enyimba will face Dynamite of Benin in Nnewi.

2017 NPFL champions Plateau United will be involved in the only all-NPFL clash of the round as they were drawn against Yobe Desert Stars. Rivers United have a date with Remo Stars Junior while Kano Pillars will slug it out with Sokoto United.

In the women’s draw, defending champions Rivers Angels will open the defense of their title with a date with Police Machine in a Round of 24 clash billed for Owerri. Last year’s beaten finalists, Ibom Angels will face another Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) side in Abia Angels while Sunshine Queens have a local derby to prosecute against Owena Angels.

All matches in both the men and women’s draw will hold between Sunday September 16 and Monday September 17 with the exception of Enyimba’s clash with Dynamite FC due to the former’s CAF Confederation Cup engagement.

Men’s Round of 32 Fixtures

Akwa United vs Aklonsendi FC
Mighty Jets vs Kwara United
Osun United vs Katsina United
FC Ifeanyiubah vs Julius Atete
El-kanemi Warriors vs Katsina United Feeders
Wikki Tourists vs Bayelsa United
Kano Pillars vs Sokoto United
Cofine FC vs Sunshine Stars
Crown FC vs Abia Warriors
Dynamite FC vs Enyimba Int’l
Kogi United vs Niger Tornadoes
Nasarawa United vs Standard FC
Remo Stars Jnr vs Rivers United
Yobe Stars vs Plateau United
Go Round vs Supreme Court
Kebbi United vs Rangers FC

Women’s Round of 24 fixtures

Rivers Angels vs Police Machines

Delta Queens Babes vs Beautiful Tours

FC Robo vs Tin City Queens

Nasarawa Amazons vs Unity Blessed Angels

Sunshine Queens vs Owena Angels

Abia Angels vs Ibom Angels

Edo Queens vs Fortress Ladies

Bayelsa Queens Feeders vs Young Talent 99 Queens

Confluence Queens vs ACI Female FC

Delta Queens FC vs Dosad Doves FC

Osun Babes vs Kada Queens

Bayelsa Queens vs YSFON Queens.