Aiteo Cup defending Champions Akwa United will begin the defense of their title in Port Harcourt this Sunday when the file out against tournament debutant Hope of Glory FC of Calabar in the Round of 64 tie.
The Promise Keepers who have won the competition twice in the last three years are huge favourites going into the game against the little known winners of the Cross River State Football Association Cup.
The defending champions ended the just concluded 2018 NPFL season in second place and are determined to retain the trophy they won last year which will be enough for them to secure continental football next season.
Coach Abdu Maikaba’s tutored side on Wednesday played out a 2-2 draw against Rivers United in a friendly and Coach Maikaba may likely line up a strong squad against the non League side in which a win will see them through to the Round of 32 of the competition.
The match will take place at the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt and the winners of the 2018 Aiteo Cup competition will be Nigeria’s sole representative in the CAF Confederation Cup competition later this year.