Kwara United FC will face Katsina United at the qaurterfinal of the 2018 Aiteo Cup soccer competition Agege Stadium, Lagos scheduled to hold on Wednesday 3rd, 2018.
It will be recalled that the Harmony Boys emerged as group C champion after beating Abia Warriors and Rivers United respectively.
While Katsina United came as runners after they garnered six points in the group B along side Enyimba that top the group with seven points.
After day three games of the Lagos centre known to be a group of death, Kwara United top the group with goals difference (+4), despite loosing against Kano Pillars and also sharing 6 points each with two other teams on the group.
Before the kick off of Group ‘C’ game on September 24 at Agege Stadium, the Pride of Rivers and Masu Gida were for obvious reasons the bookmakers’ favourites to progress from the group to the quarter final stage of the annual football showpiece, even Abia Warriors were rated above the Harmony Boys.
The two sides are deeply enriched with experienced and quality players that would command reasonable envy among their challengers.
For instance, Kano Pillars paraded players like Rabiu Ali, Jr. Lokosa, Adamu Hassan, Nwagua Nyima etc while Rivers United have Sunday Rotimi, Chigozie Ihunda, Ojobo Markson, Festus Austin, Osita Chikere etc but Kwara United have a team, a resilient and formidable team.
Harmony Boys’ impressive wins over Abia Warriors and Rivers United have grabbed the headlines and radio waves and such performances have meant that teams such as Kwara United have had the largest boosts.
Though, the Harmony Boys didn’t have a good record in the Challenge Cup, popularly called Federation Cup, as they are often beaten in rounds 64 and 32 respectively.
But the team headed by Coach Abubakar Bala are now ready to redeem their image by crushing Katsina United to advance to semi finals for the first time in the history of the tournament.
Bala boys will bank on their inform striker, Segun Alebiosu, who emerged the group C highest goal scorer. The prolific striker singled out himself with a distinctive and superlative performance, scoring four goals at the most dangerous group of the competition.
The former Niger Tornadoes goal machine scored an hat-trick in their first game against small but mighty team, Abia Warriors and also scored against Kano Pillars.
Speaking ahead of the game, Kwara United handler, Abubakar Bala believed his team can beat any opponents because of their recent form.
Katsina United on the other hand also qualified from very difficult group that include the likes of Enyimba of Abba, Plateau United and J. Atete.
Katsina Coach, Abdullhai Biffo, who is an indigene of Ilorin said their determination is to win the 2018 Aiteo Cup competition.
“Our target is to win the Aiteo Cup because we wish to play on the continent next year,” coach Biffo said.
“We do not fear any team and we are ready for the challenge ahead.”
…Segun Alebiosu stands out at Agege Stadium
No doubt Kwara United, Segun Alebiosu stands out among the strikers at the just concluded Aiteo Cup group stages Lagos centres held at Agege Stadium.
The prolific striker singled out himself with distinctive and superlative performance, scoring four goals at the most dangerous group of the competition.
The former Niger Tornadoes goal machine scored an hat-trick in their first game against small but mighty team, Abia Warriors.
Kwara United talisman capitalised on defensive lapses to seal a polished massive win by forcing Abia Warriors helpless goalkeeper to pick ball three times he was on target.
Among the four goals he scored, two of it were spectacular free kick, which made the spectators watching the game showered praises on him, especially the 20 yard free kick against Kano Pillars.
The Harmony Boys striker, popularity called ‘Omo-Ode’ (the son of hunter) Segun has revealed his gift-wrapped hat trick blast was his birthday present to Coach Festus Allen.
“I’m very happy,” said Alebiosu Segun after the last gasp winner that came on a platter of gold.
He continues “We have been celebrating as it is Coach Allen’s birthday and this was my present to him. I am very happy for him, and for me too but mostly I am happy for the team for the massive win, honestly it is unprecedented in the recent time.”
Alebiosu, the hitman added “The first goal was very easy for me because I was able to pick an angle through the position of the flat footed goalie. And for the second, the defender did not see me coming and I took the ball, one touch then shot. I was very happy, the third goal that made it a hat trick was as a result of the smooth movement of the ball through Lucas Yahaya, he watched my position and that of their defense and gave it to my advantage, honestly am glad and pleased with the temperament of our technical adviser, he is marvelous and my team mates are superb, we are United-one love”
Meanwhile, the Harmony Boys as a team did surprise many soccer fans with their performance at Lagos centre, which many soccer pundits categorised as the ‘group of death’.
Kwara United past record in Federation Cup since 2012
2012 – Lost all their three games in group stage at Lagos centre
2013 – Lost in round of 64 to Akwa Starlet
2014 – Lost in round of 32
2015 – Lost to Rangers International of Enugu in round of 16
2016 – Lost to Akwa United round of 32
2017 – Lost to Osun United in round of 16
AITEO CUP Quarter Finals Fixtures
GOMBE CENTRE
Enyimba FC vs Kano Pillars
LAGOS CENTRE
Katsina United vs Kwara United
ABA CENTRE
Nasarawa United vs El-Kanemi Warriors
KANO CENTRE
Enugu Rangers vs Akwa United
