Ahead of the kick off of the first round of the AITEO Cup Competition (Federation Cup) which resumes today, the Nigeria Football Federation has read the riot act to its match officials. This was necessary following concerns about the win-at-home-at-all-costs attitude that has ridiculed Nigerian football as well as to maintain the integrity of Nigeria's oldest football competition, having finally secured a sponsor after years of trying.
In a statement released yesterday on their official website, the officials have been warned to "perform creditably or have their names permanently struck off the list of arbiters in the country". The Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf Fresh while speaking in Abuja on Monday, said that any referee found wanting would not only be thrown out of the vocation but could also face prosecution.HEARTLAND FC (Imo) VS INSURANCE FC (Edo) – Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri (4pm)
LOBI STARS (Benue) VS KATSINA UNITED (Katsina) – Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi (4pm)
KATSINA UNITED FEEDERS (Katsina) VS AKLOSENDI FC (Nasarawa) – Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina (4pm)
AITEL FC (Taraba) VS UNICEM ROVERS (Cross River) – Jalingo Township Stadium (4pm)
MIGHTY JETS FC (Plateau) VS SUNSHINE STARS (Ondo) – Rwang Pam Stadium (4pm)
ADAMAWA UNITED (Adamawa) VS CYNOSURE FC (Rivers) – Fufure Township Stadium (4pm)
EDE UNITED (Osun) VS SAKABA UNITED FC (Kebbi) – Oshogbo Township Stadium (2pm)
FC IFEANYI UBAH FEEDERS (Anambra) VS JIGAWA GOLDEN STARS (Jigawa) – FC IfeanyiUbah Stadium, Nnewi-Ozubulu (4pm)
SAMBA KURNA (Kano) VS WIKKI TOURISTS FEEDERS (Bauchi) – Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano (4pm)
EKITI UNITED (Ekiti) VS DOLPHINS FC (Kaduna) – Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti (4pm)
RIVERS UNITED (Rivers) VS FC ATETE (Delta) – Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt (4pm)
DELTA WARRIORS (Delta) VS AYADE BABES (Cross River) – Warri City Stadium (4pm)
FC YARMA LIGHT (Gombe) VS FC IFEANYIUBAH (Anambra) – Patami Stadium, Gombe (4pm)
SHOOTING STARS (Oyo) VS DYNAMITE FC (Edo) – Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan (4pm)
KOGI UNITED (Kogi) VS RANGERS INTERNATIONAL (Enugu) – Confluence Stadium, Lokoja (4pm)
NASARAWA UNITED (Nasarawa) VS MFM FC (Lagos) – Lafia City Stadium (4pm)
DOMA UNITED (Gombe) VS ADAMAWA UNITED (Adamawa) – Patami Stadium, Gombe (2pm)
OSUN UNITED (Osun) VS COAL CITY YOUTHS (Enugu) – Oshogbo Township Stadium (4pm)
FC LOKOJA (Kogi) VS EL-KANEMI BABES (Borno) – Confluence Stadium, Lokoja (2pm)
KWARA UNITED (Kwara) VS SOKOTO UNITED (Sokoto) – Kwara Sports Stadium (2pm)
WIKKI TOURISTS (Bauchi) VS PLATEAU UNITED (Plateau) – Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi (4pm)
ABS FC (Kwara) VS ENYIMBA FC (Abia) – Kwara Sports Stadium (4pm)
ABIA WARRIORS FC (Abia) VS CROWN FC (Oyo) – Umuahia Township Stadium (4pm)
FRSC FC (FCT) VS POTISKUM ACADEMY (Yobe) – Area 3 Stadium, Abuja (2pm)
ALMAR (Ogun) VS SPARTAN FC (Lagos) – Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode (4pm)
MOYERO FC (Ondo) VS AKWA STARLETS (Akwa Ibom) – Akure Township Stadium (4pm)
UPDATED
BAYELSA UNITED (Bayelsa) VS FC ZAMFARA (Zamfara) – Nembe Stadium, (4pm, Wednesday, 16th August)
NGWA FC (Ebonyi) VS FC GALADIMA (Kebbi) - Abakaliki Township Stadium, Ebonyi (4pm, Wednesday, 16th August)
NIGER TORNADOES (Niger) VS EL-KANEMI WARRIORS (Borno) – Confluence Stadium, Lokoja (4pm, Thursday, 17thAugust)
NIGER TORNADOES FEEDERS (Niger) VS FC ABUJA (FCT) – Confluence Stadium, Lokoja (2pm, Thursday, 17th August)
HALFA FC (Jigawa) VS AKWA UNITED FC (Akwa Ibom) – Dutse Township Stadium (4pm, Thursday, 17th August)
YOBE DESERT STARS (Yobe) VS KANO PILLARS (Kano) – Damaturu Township Stadium (4pm, Thursday, 24th August)
In other news, the Organizing Committee of the AITEO Cup empathized with players and officials of the former after they were involved in a road mishap on the Umuahia-Enugu road on Monday, on their way to Hadejia for a Round of 64 clash with Halfa FC of Jigawa.
*A little adjustment in format means any stalemate after regulation time will be settled by penalty shoot –out, just as will happen for the Round of 32 (Second Round) matches. Any stalemate in the Round of 16 will see the two teams go into replay at the ‘home ground’ of Team B, and penalties would then be deployed in case of deadlock over two legs. Quarter –final and semi –final matches will be played over two legs (home and away).*
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