Last season’s Aiteo Cup Champions Akwa United will not be able to defend their crown this year after losing 4-2 on penalies to Enugu Rangers in the quarter final of the competition at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano on Wednesday.
The game ended 1-1 in regulation time before the Uyo based lost on penalties. The Promise keepers went in front four minutes before half time through Michael Ibe’s superb freekick. Rangers Captain Okey Odita headed in the equalizer from Bright Silas’s flick on in the 70th minute.
Both sides struggled to get the winning goal in regulation time in a game in which chances were at premium. Akwa United best chances fell to Paul Obata and Victor Mbaoma but they were unable to convert their chances. Enugu Rangers opportunity went the way of Bright Silas and Godwin Zaki but the front men were unable to put them way.
At the end of 90th minute, the game went into penalty shootouts. Etim Mathew and Ariwachukwu Emmanuel converted Akwa United’s first two spot kicks before Michael Ibe and Jamiu Alimi missed the next two kicks. Enugu Rangers however scored all their four penalty kicks to knock out the champions and progress to the semi final.
