Fed Cup: NFF Move Enyimba-Giwa Clash to Abeokuta

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has made some amendments to fixtures venues for Thursday’s men’s Federation Cup Semi-finals.

Holders Enyimba and three other Glo Premier League clubs are locked in a battle to reach the final, billed for the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on August 16.

The two matches in the men’s event features the ‘Peoples Elephant’ against Giwa FC and Dolphins against Prime FC.

The Aba-based club eliminated Sharks FC of Port-Harcourt 2-0 in the last-8 on Wednesday while Dolphins outlasted Lobi Stars 4-2 to advance.

Prime FC of Osogbo- the only non top-flight team in the semi-finals- prevailed 5-4 on penalties against Gateway FC of Abeokuta in a last 8 battle between two teams from the Southwest region of the Nigeria Nationwide League.

Giwa FC also progressed to the semis after their shootout victory over Crown FC.

Enyimba and Giwa FC; Dolphins and Prime FC Lines Up Against One Another in 2014 Federation Cup Semis.
Enyimba and Giwa FC; Dolphins and Prime FC Lines Up Against One Another in 2014 Federation Cup Semis.

The football federation had earlier intended to schedule both semi-final games for the same venue for reasons of close monitoring and live broadcast purpose, but officials have now decided to move one of the matches to ensure for equidistant route for either of the teams on the road.

Therefore, the match between Enyimba and another Nigeria Professional Football League side Giwa FC is now billed for the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta on Thursday, July 31, while four-time champions Dolphins versus Prime FC clash still holds at the Fifa Goal Project, Abuja, same day.

“We have now moved the match between Enyimba and Giwa FC to Abeokuta,” said Ruth David, head of Federation Cup unit.

“Abuja, the venue opicked earlier, is much closer to Jos, home of Giwa FC, than is to Aba, the base of Enyimba.”

Both Matches kicks off at 4pm.