Nigeria Professional Football League table toppers, Akwa United, Enugu Rangers and Warri Wolves were sent crashing from the round of 32 of the 2021 Aiteo Cup by lower division sides.
Nigeria National League sides Gateway and Bayelsa United piped Akwa and Rangers 1-0 respectively, while Green Beret emerged 5-4 penalty winners over Wolves after the score line stood at 1-1 after regulation time.
In other results, Abia Warriors thrashed Zamfara United 5-0, while Lobi Stars defeated Yobe Desert Stars 1-0. Kano Pillars defeated Lagos side Smart City 4-2, with Niger Tornadoes recording a 2-0 win over Mai Unguwa.
Heartland, Sunshine Stars, Katsina United won their respective matches via penalty shoot-outs to scale through to the next round, while Nasarawa United beat Bendel Insurance 3-1 on Thursday at the Enugu centre.
Rangers coach, Salisu Yusuf, rued his side’s failure to qualify for the round of 16.
“We gave away so many chances, we were supposed to score three or four goals and we were not very organised in the defence,” he said.
Winners of the men’s Aiteo Cup will represent the country at the 2021/22 CAF Confederation Cup.
