NPFL Champions, Rivers United, Plateau United Abandon 2022 Aiteo Cup

NPFL Champions, Rivers United, Plateau United Abandon 2022 Aiteo Cup

By Niyi Busari

Just few days after winning 2021/22 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season, Rivers United, have abandoned round of 64 Federation Cup match versus Dakkada FC.

This was disclosed by the club management on Saturday.

The 2021/22 NPFL runners-up, Plateau United also failed to show up in their Aiteo Cup match slated for Saturday. Both teams who will represent Nigeria in the CAF Champions League have been walked over. Though, no reason has been made available as to why they failed to honour their match but there are possibility that the decision was taken because of their Champions League matches.

Also, former Nigeria Women Football League champions Rivers Angels have pulled out of the 2021/2022 Federation Cup.

A statement from the club’s management reads, “This decision is coming after due deliberations amongst the team’s management and staff to explore the options before us. Consequently, Rivers Angels FC will not be partaking in this year’s competition. 

“The club have also officially notified the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of this development and expressed their regrets as well.

“Part of the reasons for the withdrawal is due to the fact that seven out of the 15 players retained by the club are currently unavailable due to national team engagements. Five are with the U-20 Women’s National team while two (from Ghana and Cameroon) are also away at the moment.

“The Rivers Angels team are then left with just eight players and are currently undergoing a recruitment process ahead of the next football season which makes it difficult to proceed with this year’s Aiteo Cup. 

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused the Federation and our teeming fans while assuring that we shall be back in a bigger way next time.”