By Amaechi Agbo
A repeat of the 2023 President Federation Cup final encounter between Rangers and Bendel Insurance is on the fixture again as both teams will clash in the 2025 edition of the completion in Round 16.
With 10 titles between them, Insurance (four) and Rangers (six), two of the most successful teams in Nigeria, will headline the battles in the next round of the country’s oldest competition.
They are also meeting in a repeat of the 2023 final, which the Benin side won 1-0 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State, thanks to a first-half penalty by Osarenkhoe Imade.
It also means that 2018 winners and 2023 finalists, Rangers, will be facing their 3rd Nigeria Premier Football League opponents in the competition this term.
First they battled Kano Pillars in the of Round 64 and overpowered them by alone goa. They also faced an oriental hurdle in the Round 0f 32 against Heartland and triumphed 5-3 on penalties after 1-1 regulation.
On their hand, 2023 champions, Insurance overpowere Adamawa United 3-0 in the last match.
In other high-profile clash, two other NPFL sides, Nasarawa United and Bayelsea United will clash in the Round of 16.
Four-time winners Enyimba will also face Abakaliki FC, who edged another NPFL side, Katsina United, on penalties.
Second-tier side Solutions FC compounded the woes of Lobi Stars by coming from a goal down to claim a 2-1 victory in the round of 32, and they will hope to ride on that confidence when they face Kwara United in the next round.
Nasarawa United and Bayelsa United will battle each other in an all-NPFL affair, just as former top-flight teams Warri Wolves and Wikki Tourists will battle for a place in the last eight.
Although they are just finding a resurgence in the league, Plateau United will hope to continue their steady run in the President’s Federation Cup against Osun United after knocking out Sunshine Stars.
Akwa United also await the winner of the clash between Inter Lagos and Danburam FC.
President Federation Cup: Round of 16 Fixtures
Enyimba FC (Abia) Vs Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi)
Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs Bayelsa United (Bayelsa)
Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Wikki Tourists (Bauchi)
Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Beyond Limits (Ogun)
Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) Vs Inter Lagos (Lagos)/Jr. Danburam (Katsina)
Solution FC (Anambra) Vs Kwara United (Kwara)
Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Osun United (Osun)
Bendel Insurance (Edo) Vs Rangers Int’l (Enugu)
Round of 32 fixtures (Women)
Rivers Angels (Rivers) Vs Moje Queens (Kwara) – Benin City – 05/04/25 – 1pm
Gallant Queens (Kaduna) Vs First Mahi Babes (Ebonyi) – Anyigba – 05/04/25 – 10am
Remo Ladies (Ogun) Vs Plateau United Queens (Plateau) – Anyigba – 05/04/25 – 4pm
Dannaz Ladies (Lagos) Vs GP World (Anambra) – Benin City – 05/04/25 – 10am
Delta Queens (Delta) Vs Jacklyn Angels (Akwa Ibom) – Owerri – 05/04/25 – 4pm
Ibom Angels (Akwa Ibom) Vs Sporting Angels (Rivers) – Aba – 05/04/25 – 4pm
Fortress Ladies (Edo) Vs Onimarg FC (Ondo) – Asaba – 05/04/25 – 4pm
Heartland Queens (Imo) Vs Crystal Stars (Bayelsa) – Asaba – 05/04/25 – 4pm
Osun Babes (Osun) Vs N-Youth (FCT) – Ilorin – 05/04/25 – 4pm
Edo Queens (Edo) Vs Kada Queens (Kaduna) – Anyigba – 05/04/25 – 1pm
Delta Babes (Delta) Vs Mighty Jets Mata (Plateau) – Anyigba – 06/04/25 – 1pm
Adamawa Queens (Edo) Vs Unification FC (Lagos) – Bwari Abuja – 05/04/25 – 4pm
Sunshine Queens (Ondo) Vs Castmog Ladies (Ogun) – Lagos – 05/04/25 – 4pm
Confluence Queens (Kogi) Vs Ahudiyannem Queens (Abia) – Asaba – 05/04/25 – 10am
Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa) Vs Kwara Ladies (Kwara) – Anyigba – 06/04/25 – 4pm
Bayelsa Queens (Bayelsa) Vs Naija Ratels (FCT) – Benin City – 05/04/25 – 4pm
Round of 32 Results (Men)
El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) 0-1 Enyimba FC (Abia)
Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi) 0-0 Katsina United (Katsina) – Abakaliki win 3-2 on penalties
Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) 5-0 Ijele FC (Enugu)
Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) 2-0
Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Shooting Stars (Oyo) – Warri Wolves go through following Shooting Stars’ disqualification
Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) 1-0 Rovers FC (Cross River)
Ikorodu City (Lagos) 3-1 Crown FC (Oyo)
Beyond Limits (Ogun) 2-1 Rivers United (Rivers)
Mighty Jets Feeders (Plateau) 0-2 Akwa United (Akwa Ibom)
Inter Lagos (Lagos) Vs Jr. Danburan (Katsina) – Anyigba – 03/04/25 – 4pm
Lobi Stars (Benue) 1-2 Solution FC (Anambra)
Kwara United (Kwara) 1-0 Gombe United (Gombe)
Sunshine Stars (Ondo) 0-1 Plateau United (Plateau)
Osun United (Osun) 1-1 E-World FC (Cross River) – Osun United win 4-2 on penalties
Bendel Insurance (Edo) 3-0 Adamawa United (Adamawa)
Heartland FC (Imo) 1-1 Rangers Int’l (Enugu) – Rangers Int’l win 5-3 on penalties
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