Edo FA Cup gets March 10 kickoff date

Edo FA Cup gets March 10 kickoff date

By Ojieva Ehiosun, Benin
The 2024 Edo State Federation Cup is expected to kick off Friday March 10 at the various designated centres across the State.

Edo State FA Chairman, Fred Newton Erhunwmunse, at a press conference heralding the competition, commended his board members, Edo football family and also paid tribute to his voice chairman Kindness Ohiowele, who died late last month in active service, describing him as a man who would always be remembered for his great contributions to the development of football in Edo State.

He charged on all participating teams and their managers to play to the rules of the game, adding that the MOC, would not hesitate to sanction any club, player, or manager found wanting.

"I want to welcome everybody to this historic event, I call it historic because this is the first FA Cup competition under my leadership as the FA chairman. So I'm elated standing before football major stakeholders in the state to declare this FA Cup draw event open.
"Our target is to return Edo State to her premier position in the Nigeria football. I have the believe that working with you all will take us there.

"You will agree with me that football has become a global big business and for us to get the best, we must be ready to sacrifice and put in our very best into the association. We are all gathered here for draw of the State FA Cup, we are believing God for a hitch free competition."
"You all know that organising competition of this nature is capital intensive, so I personally want to thank our various sponsors for throwing their weights behind us. This year's competition will commence on March 10, 2024 at the various designated centres across the State. The finals will be played on March 31 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin City," he said.
A total of 31 teams registered for the competition, comprising of 27 male teams and four women teams.

Among the male teams, five were ceded, they are Bendel Insurance FC, Bendel Insurance feeders FC, Rolly FC, BJ Foundation FC, and Inne Stars FC while in the women category, Edo Queens FC and Fortress Ladies FC were also ceded.

The competition will be on a knockout basis.