The quarterfinals of this year's President Federation Cup will feature no traditional heavyweight teams, following a series of stunning upsets in the previous round. The competition, known for its unpredictability, lived up to its reputation as several Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) giants were knocked out.
Rivers United Fall to Nasarawa United
Rivers United, the NPFL runners-up, were eliminated by Nasarawa United in a dramatic penalty shootout. The match ended 2-2 after regulation time, with Nasarawa United winning 4-2 on penalties. Coach Finidi George's side had hoped to win silverware after narrowly losing the league title to Rangers International on the final day. Despite the defeat, Rivers United have already secured a spot in next season's CAF Champions League.
Bendel Insurance's Collapse
Bendel Insurance FC also exited the competition in spectacular fashion. They squandered a 3-0 first-half lead against El-Kanemi Warriors, who fought back to level the scores at 3-3. El-Kanemi eventually won 8-7 in a tense penalty shootout.
Other Upsets
Former champions Enyimba FC of Aba were eliminated by Ikorodu City, losing 5-4 on penalties after a hard-fought contest. Plateau United advanced with a 2-1 victory over Basira FC, while Wikki Tourists defeated Kada Warriors 3-1. Barau FC edged Sunshine Stars U-19 2-1, and Sokoto United secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Adamawa United.
Quarterfinal Pairings
The quarterfinal matches are as follows: Sokoto United vs. El-Kanemi Warriors, Wikki Tourists vs. Flight FC, Nasarawa United vs. Plateau United, and Ikorodu City vs. Barau FC.
This year's Federation Cup has truly been a tournament of surprises, with underdog teams seizing their moment to shine on the national stage.
