Defending Champions Akwa United arrived Aba Sunday morning to begin preparations for their Round of 16 Group matches of this year’s Aiteo Cup competition.
The Promise Keepers thrash Hope of Glory FC of Calabar 7-0 in the Round of 64 and knocked out Aklosendi FC of Lafia 5-2 in the Round of 32 on their way to the Round of 16.
The Champions are drawn in Group D along side Nasarawa United, Wikki Tourists and Kogi United in the Round of 16 of the competition which starts this week.
Coach Abdu Maikaba’s men have scored 12 goals in two matches and 24 players have made the trip for the three Group matches to be played at Enyimba International Stadium in Aba.
The fixtures for Group D matches has not been made due to the fact that one of the teams in the Group, Kogi United were yet to arrive Aba as at Sunday evening.
The top two teams in Group A will face the top two teams in Group C while the Group winners and runners up in Group B will battle the top two sides in Group D.
Speaking on his team’s readiness for the Round of 16 matches, Coach Abdu Maikaba of Akwa United said his team’s target is to qualify to the next Round.
“We are here in Aba for a serious business. The teams in this Round are all good sides and we have to do the needful by qualifying to the quarter final. We believe that we are capable of going all the way. We will play three matches in one week and every match is important, so we have to focus and take it as they come.
“We did well in our last two matches scoring 12 goals and we want to continue in that same spirit. We are the defending champions so we cannot afford to let ourselves down”.
GROUP A (GOMBE; PATANI STADIUM)
ENYIMBA FC
J. ATETE FC
PLATEAU UNITED
KATSINA UNITED
GROUP B (KANO; SANI ABACHA STADIUM)
RANGERS INTERNATIONAL
SUPREME COURT FC
SUNSHINE STARS
EL-KANEMI WARRIORS
GROUP C (LAGOS; AGEGE STADIUM)
KANO PILLARS
KWARA UNITED
RIVERS UNITED
ABIA WARRIORS
GROUP D (ABA; ENYIMBA INTERNATIONAL STADIUM)
AKWA UNITED
KOGI UNITED
WIKKI TOURISTS
NASARAWA UNITED
