Enyimba, Insurance await opponents as NFF holds Federation Cup draws

Bendel Insurance.

Defending champions, Bendel Insurance, record title holder, 3SC, and league champions, Enyimba are among the top clubs expected to know their opponents when the draw for the 2024 Federation Cup holds in Abuja, tomorrow.

The national draw for the men’s and women’s Federation Cup will be conducted at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) secretariat, Abuja, with representatives of some of the clubs in attendance, the Federation said yesterday.

The field for the national competition in the men’s draw has been trimmed to 64 following last week’s play-off matches that saw the elimination of Classic FC of Adamawa, Simon Ben Academy of Kaduna, PRO Line of Kano, Crusaders FC of Bayelsa, KC FC of Kogi and Flight FC of Benue State.
From those games, Warinje FC of Bauchi, PCM FC of Ebonyi, Ine Stars of Edo, Zamfara United Feeders, Fr. Eburuaja of Imo and Gamji Eaglets of Taraba emerged to confirm their slots in tomorrow’s draw ceremony.

One of the teams conspicuous by their absence is multiple title winners, Heartland of Owerri, who were eliminated in the Imo State preliminaries of the competition.

In its place, Imo State is being represented by Ikukuoma FC and Fr. Eburuaja FC.
The men’s competition will begin with Round of 64 matches, before the Round of 32, and then Round of 16 dovetailing to the quarterfinals, semifinals and the grand finale.

The women’s competition, which has 31 entries, will begin with Round of 32 games, then the Round of 16, before the quarterfinals, semifinals and the grand finale.

In contention for the men’s title are Enyimba FC, Abia Warriors, Akwa United, FC One Rocket, Solution FC, Edel FC, Wikki Tourists and Warinje FC.
Others are Bayelsa United, Lobi Stars, El-Kanemi Warriors, Rovers FC,