Ilorin, Calabar To Host Federation Cup Semi Final.

The semi final matches of this year’s Federation Cup competition promise plenty of thrills and frills with the battles shifting to two of the nation’s preferred destinations of recent.

The UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar and the Ilorin Township Stadium come to the fore as the much-sought-for glamour of the oldest football competition in the land steadily but surely returns.

Only last week, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola presented to the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation, led by the President Aminu Maigari, a brand-new, all-silver giant trophy for the competition, for which Lagos State has a four-year agreement with NFF to stage the grand finale.

This year’s grand finale, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, has already been set for Sunday, August 26.

Cup holders Heartland FC of Owerri made sure of passage into the last four with a 2-0 spanking of Crown FC of Ogbomosho in Port Harcourt on Monday, while Lobi Stars thrashed Sharks FC of Port Harcourt 3-1 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi. Heartland, which defeated Enyimba FC 1-0 to lift the trophy last year, take on Lobi Stars at the Ilorin Township Stadium.

At the UJ Esuene Stadium, high-riding Prime FC of Oshogbo will attempt to stretch their giant-killing streak when they confront fine-playing Kano Pillars.

Pillars edged Plateau United of Jos 3-2 in an entertaining quarter final at the Agege Stadium, Lagos on Monday while Prime FC, surprise packets from the Ibadan centre, grounded Enyimba FC 2-0.