The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has postponed the group stage games of this year’s Federation Cup competition, earlier billed to take place between July 20 and 24 in four centres across the federation.
At a meeting which took place in Aba on Sunday and presided over by the NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, the committee said a new date for the group stage matches will be announced soon.
“The decision was taken as a result of the involvement of our various clubs in continental and regional competitions. We want to give these clubs the breather to prepare hard for their continental engagements and be in position to bring honours to the country. Enyimba FC of Aba is involved in the CAF Champions League; Sunshine Stars and Kaduna United FC are involved in the CAF Confederation Cup and Kwara United and Enugu Rangers are taking part in WAFU Competitions. All these clubs are also involved in the Federation Cup group stage. It is important that we allow them some breather to prepare for these continental and regional events so that they will not have too many distractions. The group stage of the 2011 Federation Cup will take place soon”, announced NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu.
At the weekend, Enyimba FC of Aba could only draw 2-2 with visiting Al-Hilala of Sudan in the opening match of the CAF Champions League group stage, just as Kaduna United FC was forced to a 1-1 draw in Kaduna by visiting Inter Clube of Angola. Only Sunshine Stars achieved victory, with a 2-0 win over DC Motema Pembe of DR Congo in Ijebu-Ode.