Arising from the 77th Annual General Assembly of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the football federation has dropped its quest on insisting Heartland FC of Owerri replays their quarter-final clash against Katsina United.
Heartland FC had initially defeated Katsina United in the quarterfinal stage played at the Kwara State Sports Complex in Ilorin. After a scoreless stalemate during regulation time, Godwin Paul stepped up to the plate to save Heartland’s blushes as the former Enyimba goalkeeper saved two spot kicks with Heartland triumphing 4-1 on penalties with Chukwudi Nwaodu scoring the deciding spot kick.
As a result, Heartland ought to have progressed to the last four of the tournament, however, there was a twist in the competition as other quarterfinalists failed to show up at the match venues, protesting the NFF’s decision to send Kwara United, who finished fourth in the top flight division, as the second representative to the CAF Confederations Cup.
After appeals by the NFF to clubs to complete the tournament, The NFF instructed a replay between Heartland and Katsina United with compensation of N5 million for the winner while other quarterfinal fixtures go on as planned. This led to appeals from Heartland to the Ministry of Sports.
However, the General Assembly held in Lagos reached a consensus to allow Heartland to participate in the Semi-Finals while other quarterfinals fixtures go as planned.
“After listening to the presentation of the 2nd Vice President/Chairman, LMC on the challenges that beleaguered this year’s AITEO Cup competition, the Board adopted resolutions reached the meeting of the NFF with the owners of Clubs that reached the men’s quarter-finals that the competition reboot at that stage and the Clubs be refunded their expenses for travelling for last-eight matches that did not take place.
“However, Heartland FC, who defeated Katsina FC in their quarter-final game in Ilorin, are already through to the semi-finals. It was agreed that the competition (men’s version) restarts after the NFF Annual General Assembly of Thursday, 18th August 2022, with the key objective of providing considerable mileage for sponsors, AITEO.” The NFF Communique read.