2021 Nigeria Federation Cup

The 2021 Nigeria Federation Cup (known as the 2021 Aiteo Cup for sponsorship reasons), was the 74th edition of the Nigeria Federation Cup. The tournament started on 27 June and ended with the final on 8 August.

2021 AITEO Cup
Country Nigeria
Dates27 June – 8 August 2021
Teams37
ChampionsBayelsa United
Runners-upNasarawa United
CAF Confederation CupBayelsa United
Matches played35
Goals scored77 (2.2 per match)
← 2019
→
All statistics correct as of 8 August 2021.

Kano Pillars were the defending champions from the 2019 tournament as the 2020 edition was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]

This year's format changed a bit as only the 37 winners of each state competitions plus the FCT qualified rather than the winners and runners-up of each state as in the previous editions. However, most clubs were nominated by their state FAs since they could not organize a state tournament, this was as a result of trying to meet the CAF deadline for submission of representatives for the 2021–22 CAF Confederation Cup.[2][3]

Bayelsa United won their first ever FA cup trophy on a day that marked history after defeating Nasarawa United 4–3 on penalties. They became the second club playing at the second division to win the cup after defunct Dolphins in 2001. With Bayelsa Queens having won the women's tournament, it became the first time two clubs from the same state won the men and women's cup in the same year.[4][5]

Format

The competition was a single elimination knockout tournament featuring the 37 winners of each state plus the FCT. The clubs from the 10 lowest ranked states entered the 'rookie play-off', the five winners then joined the remaining 27 at the first round. All matches were played at neutral stadiums with the final held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.[6]

Matches were played 90 minutes with tied games going straight to penalties.

Bracket

The NFF announced the bracket format on 17 June.[6]

First round Second round Quarter-final Semi-final Final
          
Kano Pillars 4
Smart City FC 2
Kano Pillars (p) 0(3)
Kebbi United 0(2)
Kwara United 1(4)
Kebbi United (p) 1(5)
Kano Pillars 0
Sunshine Stars 1
Warri Wolves 0(4)
Green Beret FC (p) 0(5)
Green Beret FC 0(4)
Sunshine Stars (p) 0(5)
Sunshine Stars (p) 1(6)
Kogi United 1(5)
Sunshine Stars 2(5)
Nasarawa (p) 2(6)
Jigawa 0
Plateau 3
Plateau 1
Nasarawa 3
Bendel Insurance 1
Nasarawa 3
Nasarawa 1
Gombe United 0
Katsina (p) 0(5)
El-Kanemi 0(3)
Katsina 1(4)
Gombe United (p) 1(5)
Shooting Stars 0(3)
Gombe United (p) 0(5)
Nasarawa 2(3)
Bayelsa (p) 2(4)
Akwa United 0
Gateway 1
Gateway (p) 0(4)
Wikki Tourists 0(3)
Wikki Tourists 1
Osun United 0
Gateway 1(4)
Bayelsa (p) 1(5)
Bayelsa 1
Enugu Rangers 0
Bayelsa 2
Lobi Stars 0
Yobe 0
Lobi Stars 1
Bayelsa 1
Rivers United 0
Sokoto 1
Rivers United 2
Rivers United 3
Heartland 1
Ekiti United 0(4)
Heartland (p) 0(5)
Rivers United 1
Niger Tornadoes 0
Zamfara 0
Abia Warriors 5
Abia Warriors 2
Niger Tornadoes 3
Mai Angwa 0
Niger Tornadoes 2

Rookie stage
Team 1  Score  Team 2
27 June 2021
Bendel Insurance (EDO) w/o[upper-alpha 1] Calabar Rovers (CRV)
Ngwa United (EBY) 0–2 El-Kanemi (BOR)
FC Technobat (TAR) 0–8 Shooting Stars (OYO)
Aspire FC (ANM) 1–3 Yobe Desert Stars (YBE)
29 July 2021
Bayelsa United (BAY) 1–0 NAF FC (FCT)
  1. Bendel Insurance won on walk over after Calabar Rovers failed to show up for the match.

First round
Team 1  Score  Team 2
7 July 2021
Kano Pillars (KAN) 4–2 Smart City FC (LAG)
Warri Wolves (DEL) 0–0 (4–5 p) Green Beret FC (KAD)
Sunshine Stars (OND) 1–1 (6–5 p) Kogi United (KOG)
Katsina (KAT) 0–0 (5–3 p) El-Kanemi (BOR)
Akwa United (AKW) 0–1 Gateway (OGU)
Bayelsa (BAY) 1–0 Enugu Rangers (ENU)
Yobe (YBE) 0–1 Lobi Stars (BEN)
Sokoto (SOK) 1–2 Rivers United (RIV)
Ekiti United (EKT) 0–0 (4–5 p) Heartland (IMO)
Zamfara (ZAM) 0–5 Abia Warriors (ABI)
Mai Ngwa (ADA) 0–2 Niger Tornadoes (NIG)
8 July 2021
Jigawa (JIG) 0–3 Plateau (PLA)
Bendel Insurance (EDO) 1–3 Nasarawa (NAS)
Shooting Stars (OYO) 0–0 (3–5 p) Gombe United (GOM)
Wikki Tourists (BAU) 1–0 Osun United (OSU)
9 July 2021
Kwara United (KWA) 1–1 (4–5 p) Kebbi United (KEB)

Second round

The winners of the first round proceeds to the second round. All matches were played on 14 July.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Kano Pillars (KAN) 0–0 (3–2 p) Kebbi United (KEB)
Green Beret FC (KAD) 0–0 (4–5 p) Sunshine Stars (OND)
Plateau (PLA) 1–3 Nasarawa (NAS)
Katsina (KAT) 1–1 (4–5 p) Gombe United (GOM)
Gateway (OGU) 0–0 (4–3 p) Wikki Tourists (BAU)
Bayelsa (BAY) 2–0 Lobi Stars (BEN)
Rivers United (RIV) 3–1 Heartland (IMO)
Abia Warriors (ABI) 2–3 Niger Tornadoes (NIG)

Quarter-final

The eight winners from the second round were pitted against each other. All matches were played on 22 July.

Kano Pillars the defending champion were eliminated at this round by Sunshine Stars.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Kano Pillars (KAN) 0–1 Sunshine Stars (OND)
Nasarawa (NAS) 1–0 Gombe United (GOM)
Gateway (OGU) 1–1 (4–5 p) Bayelsa (BAY)
Rivers United (RIV) 1–0 Niger Tornadoes (NIG)
22 July Kano Pillars 0–1 Sunshine Stars Confluence Stadium, Lokoja
15:00 Report Yusuf 48'
22 July Gateway 1–1
(4–5 p)		 Bayelsa Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin
15:00 Emo 50' Report Ikechukwu 58'
22 July Rivers United 1–0 Niger Tornadoes FIFA Goal Project Pitch, Abuja
15:00 Omoniwari 90+2' Report

Semi-final

The semi-finals were both held on 30 July at two different venues. Bayelsa United defeated Rivers United to reach their first ever Aiteo Cup final in the club's history. This was also the first time two clubs from Bayelsa would be playing at the Aiteo Cup finals, with Bayelsa Queens having qualified for the women's cup final.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Sunshine Stars (OND) 2–2 (5–6 p) Nasarawa (NAS)
Bayelsa (BAY) 1–0 Rivers United (RIV)
30 July Sunshine Stars 2–2
(5–6 p)		 Nasarawa Delta State Polytechnic Stadium, Ozoro
15:00 Nwankwo 32' (pen.)
Ohanachom 64'		 Report Ekelojuoti 51'
Adeniji 90+4'		 Referee: Ferdinand Udoh
30 July Bayelsa 1–0 Rivers United Agege Stadium, Lagos
15:00 Inikurogha 68' Report Referee: Bashir Salihu

Final

The final was played after the women's cup final at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

Bayelsa United won their maiden cup trophy and earned the right to participate at the CAF Confederation Cup. Nasarawa United loss was their second FA cup loss on penalties after losing to Ifeanyiubah at the 2016 edition.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Nasarawa (NAS) 2–2 (3–4 p) Bayelsa (BAY)
8 August Nasarawa 2–2
(3–4 p)		 Bayelsa Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City
18:00 Ohanachom 20'
Abdullahi 26'		 Report Inikurogha 19'
35'		 Referee: Patience Ndidi Madu
 2021 Aiteo Cup winners 
Bayelsa United
1st title

Awards
Award Winner
Top scorer Nigeria Gafaar Olafimihan (3SC)
Most Valuable Player Nigeria Mohammed Galadima (Nasarawa)

References
  1. "After Daily Trust report, NFF hurries to organise Federation Cup". Daily Trust. 2021-06-08. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  2. "CAF releases 2021–22 season interclub information and dates". CAF. Confederation of Africa Football. 22 June 2021.
  3. "CAF extends deadline for mens interclub licensing". bsnsports.com.ng. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  4. Salahudeen, Sulayman (8 August 2021). "Bayelsa United defies odds to claim maiden Aiteo cup". sportsration.com.
  5. "Bayelsa teams emerge 2021 Aiteo cup champions". premiumtimesng.com. 8 August 2021.
  6. "Aiteo Cup: Edo State set to host final as NFF roll out draws". bsnsports.com.ng. 17 June 2021.
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